In a remarkable display of communal harmony, a Hindu family in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, continued its five-decade-old tradition of transporting the city's Shahar Qazi to the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers in a horse-drawn carriage.
The heartwarming gesture took place as Satyanarayan Salvadia, a local resident, personally picked up Shahar Qazi Mohammad Ishrat Ali from his residence in Rajmohalla and escorted him to the main Idgah in Sadar Bazar, later ensuring his return home after the congregational prayers.
Speaking to reporters, Salvadia shared that the tradition was initiated by his late father, Ramchandra Salvadia, nearly 50 years ago as a symbol of brotherhood and interfaith unity.
Since his father’s passing in 2017, he has taken it upon himself to uphold this practice. Expressing his commitment to fostering communal amity, he reaffirmed that his family would continue the tradition for future generations.
Acknowledging this unique gesture, Shahar Qazi Mohammad Ishrat Ali highlighted that Indore is the only city in the country where a Hindu family honors the Qazi by escorting him to the Idgah for Eid prayers with such respect. He urged young people to rise above political divisions and instead embrace a social and humanitarian perspective on life.
As thousands gathered at the Idgah for the Eid prayers, some attendees were seen wearing black bands on their arms. One individual explained that this was a mark of solidarity with the Palestinian people, whom they sought to remember amid ongoing struggles.
The event also saw the presence of Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jeetu Patwari, who visited the Idgah to extend his greetings to Shahar Qazi Ishrat Ali.
Speaking to the media, Patwari emphasised that Eid represents India's Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, a cultural ethos that signifies unity in diversity. He remarked that those who propagate hatred cannot be true patriots and urged the public to recognize and reject divisive ideologies that threaten the country's social fabric.
Also Read: Eid-ul-Fitr celebrated across Kashmir with festive joy
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