Every year, Muslims congregate at the Gandhi Maidan in the town but this time it was raining heavily and the ground was consequently slushy. Hence, Sardar Buta Singh who is the gurdwara's prabandhak informed that its main hall can be used by the Muslims to offer prayers.
Accepting the large-hearted invitation, many of the town's Muslim residents entered the gurdwara at 9.30 a.m and participated in the Eid namaaz. Subsequently the Sikhs and the Muslims embraced each other.
Some Hindus too joined in the Eid celebrations there.
Afterwards, Sardar Buta Singh said that he had invited the Muslims to the gurdwara since they were not able to offer worship in the open due to the downpour.
Hailing the Gurdwara committee's exemplary humanity, Maulvi Asif thanked it for the solving the problem which the Muslims had been facing. He added that the committee had shown everyone how to respect all religions.
Joshimath, 250 kms away from Rishikesh, is situated near two famous places of worship - Badrinath and Hemkunt Sahib. Millions of Hindus flock to the former all throughout the year while the latter is an important pilgrimage centre of Sikhs.
[Source: The News]
A wonderful gesture by our Sikh brethren. However, if the Sikhs, Buddhists or Christians need a place to worship, I wonder whether such an offer would come from our Muslim leaders here. Food for thought, though.
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