Muslims celebrate ‘Navratri’ festival with fervour in Mumbai
September 20th, 2009 - 1:09 pm ICT by ANIMumbai, Sept 20 (ANI): Setting an example of communal amity, Muslims here celebrated the festival of ‘Navratri’ with gusto.
Mohammed Tahir and his wife Zubeida, the main organisers, have been celebrating the festival since 1980.
Tahir said that his wife had dreamt of the Goddess and the couple has since been setting up a makeshift temple every year dedicated to Goddess Durga.
“Every year, the temple has a different setting. We have made replica of the Balaji, Vaishno Devi Temple in Jammu, Kedarnath and Badrinath,” said Tahir.
Zubeida said the temple was for everyone who believed that all religions taught different paths to reach the same God.
“It is for everyone who believes in the unity of religions. We all celebrate it together, be it Hindu or Muslim. In fact people from various religions and regions come here,” said Zubeida.
In fact, people belonging to various religions and communities bear the cost of the event.’Naaratri’, which literally means nine nights, is observed twice a year.
The festival lasts for nine days in honour of nine manifestations of Durga, goddess of power, and fall in the months of April-May and September-October.
It is believed that during the Navratri, Goddess Durga descends on earth to rid it of the demons and blesses her devotees with happiness and prosperity. (ANI)
- Fervour and gaiety mark first day of Navratri - Apr 04, 2011
- Nine-day 'Navratri' festival begins - Sep 19, 2009
- Devotees throng Delhi temple as Navratri festival begins - Oct 08, 2010
- Navratri begins with fervour in Uttar Pradesh - Sep 28, 2011
- Nine days of fasting ends with Ram Navami festival - Apr 12, 2011
- Tight security at Vaishno Devi shrine ahead of 'Navratri' - Sep 18, 2009
- South India heralds New Year, north ushers Navratri (Roundup) - Apr 04, 2011
- Himalayan shrines to be closed for public next month - Oct 18, 2010
- Devotees take holy dip in rivers across Uttar Pradesh on first day of Navratri - Oct 08, 2010
- Vaishno Devi devotees face hardship due to security measures near Katra - Sep 25, 2009
- Exorcists offer prayers in a crematorium during Navratri festival in West Bengal - Sep 24, 2009
- Devotees throng Assam's Kamakhya temple for Kumari Puja - Sep 24, 2009
- Imported flowers for Vaishno Devi temple during Navratri festival - Mar 30, 2009
- Saying it with stones at an Uttar Pradesh temple - Jul 04, 2010
- Muslim prisoners fast during Navratri to atone for sins - Mar 23, 2010
Tags: badrinath, balaji, communal amity, demons, devotees, different paths, goddess durga, gusto, hindu, jammu, kedarnath, manifestations, mohammed, mumbai, muslims, navratri, nine days, organisers, religions, tahir