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Muslims Oppose Ganesh Idol Near Mosque Premises Ahead of Bakr Id

As Ganesh Chaturthi coincides with Bakr Id this year, it could spell trouble in this mosque in Vadodara.

Updated
India
2 min read
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Three years ago when Hindus were invited to install a Ganesh idol at the Idgah mosque in Pratapnagar, Vadodara, it was seen as an important step towards burying old animosities and building bridges between the two communities.

This year however, Ganesh Chaturthi’s ten-day celebration is coinciding with Bakr Id, prompting the mosque authorities to object the presence of the idol near the mosque compound.

The mutawalli of the mosque told The Indian Express:

The compound is the property of the Idgah Masjid and belongs to the Wakf board. I requested organisers of the Ganesh pandal that since Eid-ul-Adha (Bakr Id) is coinciding with Ganesh Chaturthi festivities this year, they must shift the idol as Muslims do not worship idols. Presence of an idol on the premises will hurt sentiments of many Muslims. After the mandal refused to shift the pandal, I requested the police commissioner to look into the matter as the issue could snowball into a law and order problem.
— Mutawalli Syed Aamirullah Shukranullah

A member of the Ganesh mandal on the other hand, told the Indian Express that an understanding was reached with the mutawalli in 2012. The festivals of Eid and Ganesh Chaturthi rarely coincide and this “rare occurrence” has left both sides in a fix.

We are unable to move the idol as per their demand because it is a ritual to install the idol at the exact spot for a period of five years before it can be shifted.
— Member of the Ganesh mandal

The police is ensuring that the matter gets resolved smoothly without any untoward incidents.

Namaz is only a matter of a few hours in a day. We will hold meetings with both sides to make sure there is no trouble created from either side and deploy extra security in the area.
— Police inspector RH Jadeja to Indian Express

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Topics:  Hindu   Ganesh Chathurthi 

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