Garba that binds communities

AHMEDABAD: This quaint temple of Mumba Devi, right along the GPO road in Mirzapur, is a symbol of communal harmony for close to two decades now. On Tuesday, full moon night, the Hindu residents of Bakher Ali ki Wadi will perform the `Mumba Devi' garba. The permit holder for organizing the event happens to be a Muslim family.

"Only organizers who hold valid district collectorate and the civic body permissions can organize such events in public places," says Congress municipal councillor Hasan Lala.

While Mousin has been organizing the event for the last decade, his father Qayum, a security guard in the area, had been organiz ing the garba.

Surendra Baxi, another local councillor here, adds, "We have been attending this garba for more than a decade now. It brings members of both communities together every year. Sweets are distributed and a lot of Muslim women too join the celebrations."