In a heartening display of interfaith solidarity, the Hindu community in Mangaluru has stepped forward to support the annual Uroos festival at the Hazrat Asayyed Ismail Waliyullahil Bukhari Manjanady mosque. The gesture, known as 'hore kanike', involved a significant donation of essential supplies and a procession, sending a strong message of communal harmony and brotherhood in the coastal Karnataka city.
A Procession of Goodwill and Unity
The initiative was a collaborative effort by several local Hindu organisations. Groups including the Nithyananda Seva Samiti of Nithyananda Nagar, Hanuman Friends of Hindupura in Assaigoli, Team Aasaigoli, Shakti Friends Akasha Bhavana, and Sneha Balaga Mangaluru came together for the cause. Others like Om Shakti Mangaluru, Barke Friends Kudroli, Brothers Kolya, and Sai Friends Assaigoli also joined the collective effort.
Together, they organised a hore kanike procession that commenced from the Assaigoli Junction. The procession made its way to the Manjanady Central Juma Masjid, symbolising a bridge of goodwill between communities. The tangible offering consisted of approximately 15 quintals of essential items such as rice, sugar, vegetables, and other daily necessities, all contributed for the successful conduct of the Uroos festivities.
Leaders Hail the Gesture as a Model for Society
Speaking on the occasion, Sunil Poojary, the president of Sai Friends Asaigoli, clarified the core intention behind the programme. He stated that the primary aim was to actively promote unity and brotherhood among all residents. Poojary extended a call to people from every faith to work collectively for the Uroos festival's success, emphasising shared community responsibility.
Another key organiser, Ganesh Assaigoli, elaborated on the sentiment behind the offering. He explained that through the hore kanike, the Hindu community expresses its profound respect and goodwill towards their Muslim neighbours and their religious observances. He expressed a hopeful wish for society to continually be guided by divine grace towards lasting harmony and mutual understanding.
Mosque Committee Welcomes the Symbolic Offering
The gesture was warmly and wholeheartedly received by the management of the Manjanady Juma Masjid. Abdul Azeez Mysuru Bava, the president of the mosque committee, expressed his happiness at the voluntary initiative taken by the Hindu community. He noted that the support came swiftly after the announcement that the Uroos would begin on December 17.
"The Committee has accepted the goodwill gesture of the Hindu community wholeheartedly. They have fulfilled their promise by offering the hore kanike to our mosque," Bava added. Echoing this sentiment, Abdul Azeez Parthippadi, another committee member, highlighted the deeper significance of the act. He described it as a clear testimony to the respect the Hindu community holds for the Muslim community, the mosque, and the Uroos festival itself.
Parthippadi concluded by affirming that this offering stands as a meaningful symbol of communal harmony and brotherhood. He believes such acts are crucial foundations for fostering a peaceful and cooperative coexistence for all communities in Mangaluru and beyond, setting a powerful example for the nation.
