Varanasi: While Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram, was illuminated with lakhs of earthen lamps and the Deepotsava was attended by the chief minister Yoigi Adityanath on the eve of Deepawali on Saturday, a group of Muslim women in Varanasi sang in praise of Shri Ram and prayed for the construction Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
“All we know that Ram is our ancestor, and we can change religion but not our ancestor,” said Nazneen Ansari, the president of Muslim Mahila Foundation. “We also prayed for the construction of a grand temple of Shri Ram at his birthplace,” said Nazma Parvin.
These women have been performing Shri Ram aarti on this day since 2006 after the terrorist attack on Sankat Mochan Temple to present an example of communal harmony. Nazneen herself has scripted Shri Ram Aarti and Hanuman Chalisa in Urdu. She has also scripted Ramchartimanas in Urdu. “Kashi has always given a message of communal harmony,” said Archana Bharavanshi.
The celebration was organized by the MMF and Vishal Bharat Sansthan at Subhash Bhawan in Lamhi. Several Muslim and Hindu women took part in aarti. The function was also attended by VBS president Rajiv Srivastava, Kunwar Mohammad Naseen Raza Khan, and Pandit Rishi Dwivedi.
