BALASORE: The lion-seated Goddess has many a Muslim devotee in this coastal district. Every year as Durga puja approaches, Shaikh Jannat Hossain of Nurpur Road, Sk Kamruz Zuma and Naimuddin Hoda of Arad Bazaar get ready to play their roles for a grand puja. While Zuma is the president of Arad Bazaar Puja committee, Hossain is the secretary of Master Mill puja committee.Hossain, the headman of the Muslim community at Nurpur Road in Balasore district, has been heading the community puja committee for the last five years. As the Astami rituals are performed, he keeps fast and sits before the Goddess while Hindu priests chant ‘mantras’.Going one step ahead, Hoda organises the puja at Odean Talkies square with the help of a few Hindu members and is the president of Kalinga Durga puja committee. “I keep fast during the puja not to show how secular I am. But I do it because I have faith in Devi. Though I am a Muslim, I strongly believe God is one,” Hossain said.The glittering puja pandals in some areas of Balasore town are joint efforts of the Hindus and the Muslims.Naimuddin Hoda, a businessman, said starting from the budget finalisation for pandal and idol preparation, he has been organising every thing in the area with the help of his friend Surya Narayan Sahu.The fact that Islam forbids idolatry is no deterrent to the Muslims here who participate in this festival with the same level of enthusiasm and revelry as their Hindu brethren.“The Hindus and the Muslims here are united and every festival here rises above religious and communal identities. We are united and our younger generation is following in our footsteps,” said Sk Kamruz Zuma.During the immersion too, a large number of youths from the Muslim community shoulder the large idols and take part in colourful procession before the immersion ceremony.
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