Religious Harmony Exemplified: Iftar Arranged for Muslims at Kerala Temple
The temple committee was busy preparing fruits and other offerings on Monday. Initially, it was planned to arrange food for those attending the Perumkaliyattam (temple festival). However, when the temple authorities announced that the prasadam would be for Muslim brothers coming for iftar, it became a moment of unity for the entire community, ETV Bharat reported the story.
Soon after, fasting participants began to arrive. The temple officials warmly welcomed them, seated them, and exchanged friendly greetings while inquiring about each other’s well-being. As the call to prayer began, the temple courtyard filled with a prayerful silence, reinforcing religious harmony alongside the iftar celebration. While iftar events are common in mosques, such occurrences in a temple during the Perumkaliyattam festival are rare. People from various religions participated in the iftar ceremony.
Promoting the message of religious harmony, iftar programs were held in places like Neeleshwaram, Palikara, Kaymanmangalam Kazhakam, and Thrikkeri Pooram Valmiki Kazhakam.
During the program, members of the temple committee handed over the prepared food items for the fasting individuals to the mosque committee. Manoral Ali Shahab personally distributed these materials to the attendees.
Professor K.P.J. Rajan, Chairman of the Temple Festival Organizing Committee, stated, “We personally visited 13 different mosque areas to invite people for iftar. This event is an example of unity.”
After the iftar party, Manoral Ali Shahab Thangal shared on social media how “beautiful the event was.” He mentioned his participation in the iftar party held at Neeleshwaram Palikara Sri Kaymanmangalam Kazhakam Bhagwati Temple as part of the Perumkaliyattam festival.
Visiting neighborhoods, inviting people, and witnessing their participation made the event truly heartwarming. Manoral Ali Shahab Thangal expressed that such events filled with love and unity create hope for the future, especially during difficult times, bringing a sense of peace to the heart.
Religious harmony can be observed not only during iftar but in all matters here. During the floods, local mosques provided shelter to those in need. The love and brotherhood among them are evident, as everyone considers each other as siblings. Local resident Sabir Charmal, who attended the iftar, noted that the organizers of the temple festival provided all necessary support.
