culture binds people of Varanasi
Submitted by vinayras on Tue, 05/01/2007 - 18:35.
General
“ The city has never seen a trend of Hindus voting for one political party and Muslims voting for another. The fact that Mufti went to Sankat Mochan temple after the blast is in keeping with the tradition of Varanasi ”- Lenin Raghuvanshi, social activist
Being a Hindu or a Muslim in Uttar Pradesh maybe a politicised identity, but not in Varanasi.
Try as they might, each political party's attempt to polarise Hindus and Muslims here has failed. The people say they are nothing without their composite culture.
Varanasi has a unique culture developed over thousands of years. The Ganga river is the heart and soul of one of the oldest cities in the world.
The communal equations of political parties strike a jarring note in Varanasi. During the current elections, the city witnessed the CD controversy. And earlier in January, it was the riots in Gorakhpur that were threatening to spread here. But as always the city foiled each attempt.
In this unique city, Hindu and Muslims have been like the warp and the weft, meshed together. But some dangerous elements have been at work trying to tear this fabric.
Last year terrorists targetted the Sankat Mochan temple and shortly after the blast, some politicians tried to gain mileage from the incident.
''The terrorists thought the blasts would cause riots. But they were not successful. There is Hindu, Muslim amity,'' said a citizen.
''In my view it was to inflame passions. Muslims can never be against us. Because this is where Lord Shiva lives. We are his children, both Hindu and Muslims. Such a major blast took place, but from the very next day the pujas were resumed. There is no sense of fear. We go to the mazhar and they visit the Sankat Mochan temple,'' said Chhannulal Mishra, singer.
Social fabric
People of the city are aware that politicians can instigate communal passions. ''The people know that politicians try to instigate them. But they are not affected,'' said a citizen.
''The city has never seen a trend of Hindus voting for one political party and Muslims voting for another. The fact that Mufti went to Sankat Mochan temple after the blast is in keeping with the tradition of Varanasi,'' said Lenin Raghuvanshi, social activist.
''But there have been two forces at work. Just as Varanasi is the city of Kabir, Agarsen, Tulsidas, Mirabai, Rani Laxmibai, Bismillah Khan and Premchand, it is also the city of troublemakers,'' Raghuvanshi added.
Take for instance the little disputes in one Laxman Yadav's locality, Gauriganj. Sometimes the dates for Moharram and Holika overlap and accommodating both religious ceremonies in the narrow lanes is an issue.
Little disputes like this one often become the cause of riots. But Laxman Yadav does not give troublemakers a chance. Along with his neighbours, he is proactive in finding a solution that is sensitive to both Hindus and Muslims.
''The elders of the community and Laxman Yadav resolved the issue and the ceremonies were beautiful,'' said a resident of the city.
Laxman Yadav says politicians try to vitiate the atmosphere. ''Politicians will do what they are not supposed to do. They will jump into any situation where ten people are involved because they want votes. A politician's work is to tell lies while a social worker is dedicated to the service of people.''
Clearly the secret of Varanasi's spirit lies with ordinary people.
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070010547
Submitted by vinayras on Tue, 05/01/2007 - 18:35.
General
“ The city has never seen a trend of Hindus voting for one political party and Muslims voting for another. The fact that Mufti went to Sankat Mochan temple after the blast is in keeping with the tradition of Varanasi ”- Lenin Raghuvanshi, social activist
Being a Hindu or a Muslim in Uttar Pradesh maybe a politicised identity, but not in Varanasi.
Try as they might, each political party's attempt to polarise Hindus and Muslims here has failed. The people say they are nothing without their composite culture.
Varanasi has a unique culture developed over thousands of years. The Ganga river is the heart and soul of one of the oldest cities in the world.
The communal equations of political parties strike a jarring note in Varanasi. During the current elections, the city witnessed the CD controversy. And earlier in January, it was the riots in Gorakhpur that were threatening to spread here. But as always the city foiled each attempt.
In this unique city, Hindu and Muslims have been like the warp and the weft, meshed together. But some dangerous elements have been at work trying to tear this fabric.
Last year terrorists targetted the Sankat Mochan temple and shortly after the blast, some politicians tried to gain mileage from the incident.
''The terrorists thought the blasts would cause riots. But they were not successful. There is Hindu, Muslim amity,'' said a citizen.
''In my view it was to inflame passions. Muslims can never be against us. Because this is where Lord Shiva lives. We are his children, both Hindu and Muslims. Such a major blast took place, but from the very next day the pujas were resumed. There is no sense of fear. We go to the mazhar and they visit the Sankat Mochan temple,'' said Chhannulal Mishra, singer.
Social fabric
People of the city are aware that politicians can instigate communal passions. ''The people know that politicians try to instigate them. But they are not affected,'' said a citizen.
''The city has never seen a trend of Hindus voting for one political party and Muslims voting for another. The fact that Mufti went to Sankat Mochan temple after the blast is in keeping with the tradition of Varanasi,'' said Lenin Raghuvanshi, social activist.
''But there have been two forces at work. Just as Varanasi is the city of Kabir, Agarsen, Tulsidas, Mirabai, Rani Laxmibai, Bismillah Khan and Premchand, it is also the city of troublemakers,'' Raghuvanshi added.
Take for instance the little disputes in one Laxman Yadav's locality, Gauriganj. Sometimes the dates for Moharram and Holika overlap and accommodating both religious ceremonies in the narrow lanes is an issue.
Little disputes like this one often become the cause of riots. But Laxman Yadav does not give troublemakers a chance. Along with his neighbours, he is proactive in finding a solution that is sensitive to both Hindus and Muslims.
''The elders of the community and Laxman Yadav resolved the issue and the ceremonies were beautiful,'' said a resident of the city.
Laxman Yadav says politicians try to vitiate the atmosphere. ''Politicians will do what they are not supposed to do. They will jump into any situation where ten people are involved because they want votes. A politician's work is to tell lies while a social worker is dedicated to the service of people.''
Clearly the secret of Varanasi's spirit lies with ordinary people.
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070010547
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