2 days ago
Mosque serves Murugan devotees; rekindles Thirupparankundram's spirit of unity
Madurai: Months after tensions surfaced in Thirupparankundram over claims related to hill ownership and religious practices, the town witnessed a heartening display of communal harmony on Monday.
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As thousands gathered for the Kumbabishekam (consecration) of the Arulmigu Subramaniaswamy Temple, the nearby Hazrat Sultan Sikandar Badusha Dargah association opened its mosque's doors to serve drinking water and food to temple devotees.
Volunteers from the Dargah distributed refreshments and offered annadhanam to devotees, who responded with warmth and gratitude. The act stood out as a symbol of Thirupparankundram's enduring social fabric, where both communities have long coexisted.
"We didn't do this to prove anything about religious harmony," said M Arif, secretary of the Thirupparankundram Jamath. "We've been doing this for years — during milk pot processions, car festivals, and major temple events. People here never made us feel different, and we've always been proud to contribute."
For devotees, the gesture was moving. "This is the kind of unity our children should grow up seeing," said M Shakti, 45, of Avaniyapuram.
"Faith doesn't divide us; it brings us together."
A Abudahir, a senior member of the Jamath, noted that many Muslim families regularly contribute to annadhanam during temple festivals. "Some even believe donating to such causes brings blessings to their homes. Faith may differ, but goodwill is universal," he said.
In a town that recently faced communal friction, the gesture stood as a quiet, powerful reminder: harmony isn't declared — it's lived.
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