Patna : Manjoor Mian, Nazma Khatoon, Ladli Begum and Mohd Nazir, all Muslims, have one thing in common — they all celebrate Chhath, the most popular Hindu festival of Bihar.
A large number of Muslims not only help to clean the banks of rivers and ponds where the devout gather, and donate money for the festival, some — women in particular — observe fast on account of Chhath.
“We have been celebrating Chhath for 34 years and will celebrate it till we breath our last,” said Manjoor, in his 50’s, from Lala Tola of Sitab Diara, the village of socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan.
Manjoor, a drum beater, goes to river banks with his ‘dug-dugi’ during the festival. Nazma, from Mohanpur Haat in Vaishali district, takes part in rituals — like millions of Hindu women.
“I am not alone. There are dozens of Muslim women like me in nearby villages who celebrate Chhath,” said Nazma, in her late 40s.
Muslim women in parts of Bihar have been celebrating Chhath for years, ignoring criticism from hardliners in their community.
It is a matter of faith, say the women, who pray to the sun “like our Hindu counterparts”.
Mallika Bano, a resident of Shukla Road in Muzaffarpur, has observed Chhath for 25 long years — and for good reason. “My wish to have a son was fulfilled after I performed Chhath (years earlier),” she said. Hindus see in these Muslims a show of communal harmony.
