Daijiworld Media Network - Chikkodi (SP)

Chikkodi, Sep 14: While certain forces continue to wedge a divide between Hindus and Muslims and sow seeds of hatred in their minds, there are areas where these communities continue to coexist harmoniously and support each other. Here, Muslims install Ganesha idols in their mosques and offer puja. This rare sample of religious tolerance can be witnessed in Kurundwad town in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra, which is located very close to Karnataka border district of Belagavi.

In Kurundwad people do not differentiate each other on the basis of religious affiliation. All the festivals are celebrated by all the other communities in a grand manner. The Muslims here have been celebrating Ganeshotsava in their mosques here for the last 50 years.

Kurundwad in Shiroll taluk, Kolhapur district, Maharashtra is a place where Hindus and Muslims live harmoniously. Here, Ganeshotsava is celebrated in mosques and Dargahs. Ganeshotsava is celebrated in over five mosques including Kudekhan Mosque, Karakhan Peeta mosque etc. On the occasion of Ganeshotsava, devotional songs are sung every day in the mosques. Once in 12 years, Muharram and Ganesha festival fall on the same day. On those occasions too inside the mosques, Muharram is celebrated on one side while Ganeshotsava is arranged on the other side.

Here, forces trying to wedge a divide between communities have failed to succeed. People of Kurundwad believe in unity in diversity and they insist on celebrating one another's festival and following one another's culture. One hopes that this tradition will thrive and prevail here and become a model for others to follow in the years ahead.