RAJKOT: A hillock with a dargah on the best is an unmissable sight as you enter the coastal town Rajula. Pause for a couple of seconds and you see a temple built subsequent to this Muslim shrine.
The story of Tajanshah Pir dargah and Khodiyar Mata temple unfolds as one begins mountain climbing the 127 steps to Piriya Hill, which has develop into a symbol of communal unity on this little town. Hindus are frequently noticed praying at the dargah and Muslims take part within the Satyanarayan kathas arranged within the temple.
Co-incidentally, this is the dargah of Muslim saint Tajanshah Pir, who, locals say saved Rajula from communal violence around 700 years in the past. While the shrine exists for a number of years now, the decision to build a temple on the identical premises was a conscious one taken by the Rajula Kaumi Eka Committee after the 2002 post-Godhra riots.
“In 2002, when violence gripped entire Gujarat, we have been determined to make certain that the flames of hatred do not unfold to our town. Therefore, we took a planned resolution to build a temple of Khodiyar Mata and renovate the street reaching up to the hill best,” said Nurubhai Vora, founding father of the committee.
The committee was formed in 1996 however develop into absolutely useful handiest after 2002 riots. The committee manages both the shrine and the temple. Interestingly, when the speculation for constructing the temple was floated, folks voluntarily started giving budget, without reference to their religion. Rajula, with a inhabitants of just about 60,000, has around 15,000 Muslims.
“We spent about Rs 13 lakh. We never went to folks soliciting for budget but if they were given to grasp that this might toughen the communal amity, they started coming to my shop with budget,” said Vora. The committee has seven Hindu and as many Muslim members.
As in keeping with the recommendation of some Hindu priest, the committee determined to install the trident of Khodiyar Mata and the temple in any case took form in 2010. Manubhai Jakhda, the committee’s president said, “Now, we can be renovating the dargah and will set up a dome on the best by spending of Rs 5 lakh.”
The story of Tajanshah Pir dargah and Khodiyar Mata temple unfolds as one begins mountain climbing the 127 steps to Piriya Hill, which has develop into a symbol of communal unity on this little town. Hindus are frequently noticed praying at the dargah and Muslims take part within the Satyanarayan kathas arranged within the temple.
Co-incidentally, this is the dargah of Muslim saint Tajanshah Pir, who, locals say saved Rajula from communal violence around 700 years in the past. While the shrine exists for a number of years now, the decision to build a temple on the identical premises was a conscious one taken by the Rajula Kaumi Eka Committee after the 2002 post-Godhra riots.
“In 2002, when violence gripped entire Gujarat, we have been determined to make certain that the flames of hatred do not unfold to our town. Therefore, we took a planned resolution to build a temple of Khodiyar Mata and renovate the street reaching up to the hill best,” said Nurubhai Vora, founding father of the committee.
The committee was formed in 1996 however develop into absolutely useful handiest after 2002 riots. The committee manages both the shrine and the temple. Interestingly, when the speculation for constructing the temple was floated, folks voluntarily started giving budget, without reference to their religion. Rajula, with a inhabitants of just about 60,000, has around 15,000 Muslims.
“We spent about Rs 13 lakh. We never went to folks soliciting for budget but if they were given to grasp that this might toughen the communal amity, they started coming to my shop with budget,” said Vora. The committee has seven Hindu and as many Muslim members.
As in keeping with the recommendation of some Hindu priest, the committee determined to install the trident of Khodiyar Mata and the temple in any case took form in 2010. Manubhai Jakhda, the committee’s president said, “Now, we can be renovating the dargah and will set up a dome on the best by spending of Rs 5 lakh.”
Hindu-Muslim amity sits high on this hillock
![Hindu-Muslim amity sits high on this hillock]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
June 16, 2018
Rating:
