How a Tradition of Bringing a Tree to a Mosque on Holi Took a Turn in Ratnagiri

Locals said that bringing the tree to the mosque's gate is an old custom but ramming into it was a first.

(Photo: The Quint)

Following viral videos and claims of Hindus trying to enter a Jama Masjid in Rajapur city of Maharashtra's Ratnagiri forcibly by ramming a tree trunk into the gates, the Ratnagiri police has denied 'forced entry' into the mosque and said that the videos show an old tradition followed during the Shimga festival.

The incident took place in Rajapur village of Ratnagiri district where Shimga festival, aslo known as Madhachi yatra, is a procession taken out ahead of Holi eve.

The locals, however, say that while bringing a tree trunk to the mosque's gates is a part of an age-old custom in which the trunk of the tree is touched to the mosque's steps, ramming it into the gates was a first.

"A coconut tree is chopped by villagers for the procession every year and burnt for Holi. The procession, along with the tree, starts at one point in the village and is destined for Dhopeshwar temple which is not far. It is custom to place the tree trunk by the steps of the mosque momentarily, following which Muslims also offer a coconut. It is looked at as a sign of harmony between the two communities," a Rajapur local explained on the condition of anonymity.

One of the videos that went viral also showed the tree being hurled into the air several times, which the locals confirmed is also part of the tradition, and did not indicate that the "tree was being launched for an attack on the mosque" as is being claimed by several posts on social media.

We spoke to eye-witnesses from the procession and the police to get a clear picture of what transpired during the procession.

'Provocative Slogans Were Raised'

The situation did escalate for a while with heated exchange between the two sides. After the tree trunk rammed the gates, the locals standing inside the mosque premises pushed the gate back a few times, locals told The Quint.

In one of the videos viral on social media, a local can be heard telling a person standing inside the mosque premises: "You should not have pushed the gate. The Holi (tree trunk) would not have entered the premises. You should not have pushed. That is our God."

Following this exchange, the police intervened.

Owais Pechkar, a Ratnagiri-based lawyer and social worker told The Quint that many in the crowd cheered and raised slogans after the gate was damaged.

"There has always been Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb in the village. But you must have seen how they rammed the tree into the gates the way they used to during battles in old times. It clearly appeared pre-planned," Pechkar alleged.

In a letter to Ratnagiri SP, Pechkar has demanded that the 25 to 35 people holding the tree must be booked under Sections 191 (rioting), 192 (provocation to cause a riot), 196 (promoting enmity, 298 (defiling a place of worship), 299 (outrage the religious feelings), 300, 301 (trespassing places of worship), and 302 (to wound the religious feelings of person) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).

"All such things have started merging only after the Lok Sabha since Narayan Rane and both his sons have got elected," Pechkar claimed.

'Misleading Claims on Social Media': Police

Several posts on social media claimed that along with provocative sloganeering, gulaal was thrown during Tarwehee prayers while the procession was carried out.

Speaking to The Quint, Ratnagiri ACP Jayshree Gaikwad denied these claims.

"There are many post on social media that claim that gulaal was thrown during Tarawih prayers. Nothing like that happened. I want to clarify that there are no tensions in the village right now," Gaikwad said.

Asked if the police was looking into provocative sloganeering by locals, Gaikwad said: "Nothing of that sort has happened. The probe is underway and further action will be taken if anything comes to light."

While the police is also looking at social media handles sharing the videos with false or misleading claims, an FIR has been filed under Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act for unlawful assembly over alleged sloganeering.

A peace meet was also held with community leaders was held at the Rajapur police station on Thursday by MLA Kiran Samant.

Owaisi, Guardian Minister React

The videos raked up a political storm in Maharashtra with Lok Sabha MP and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi taking to X to slam Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis.

"Sir @Dev_Fadnavis will law take its own course? shameful that a Masjid is attacked in the presence of Police," he posted.

Ratnagiri guardian minister Uday Samant addressed the media on Thursday to say that anybody taking the law in their hands must be punished.

"If you try to create unnecessary rift between the two communities, it will affect everyone. I am of the opinion that anyone who has taken the law in their hands must be acted against," Samant said.

"If anybody living in the country and works against it, they need to be taught a lesson," he added.