The thread that binds communities in Ahmedabad
The festival of Rakhi not only cements ties of blood between Hindu brothers and sisters but also brings Hindus and Muslims of the city closer to each other in a wholly unexpected way.
How many Amdavadis know that the sacred thread which Hindu sisters in the city tie round the wrist of their brothers to reaffirm their mutual trust, are made by Muslim craftsmen in Millatnagar? Not many, I dare say.
Nowadays, both the communities are happy that Rakhi is just a month away now – it falls on Aug 16, 2008 – and each community is preparing for it in its own way.
Wakil Rakhiwala, a resident of Millatnagar, said, “I start looking forward to rakhi at least six months before it actually arrives.”
As his surname amply indicates, Rakhiwala is one of the major businessmen of Millatnagar dealing in rakhis. Like some other traders of Millatnagar, he supplies raw material to the craftsmen who make the rakhis. The workers later bring back the rakhis to his shop for sale.
There are around 10 businessmen in Millatnagar who trade in rakhis on a large scale. Each businessman has around 30 craftsmen working for him.
Bhadre Alam, another Millatnagar businessman who employs craftsmen to make rakhis, said, “Rakhi is always a welcome time insofar as I am concerned because it gives me good business for at least one whole month.”
Talking about the uniqueness of this festival which is welcomed by both Hindus and Muslims, Wakil Rakhiwala said, “Rakhi brings both the two communities closer by bridging communal divisions, even if only temporarily.”
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment