MANDYA: At a time when several controversies abound over Ganesha festival celebrations in some parts of the state, Mandya has set an example of communal harmony, wherein people from both the Hindu and Muslim communities came together to celebrate the festival.
People celebrated the festival with full enthusiasm and decorated the pandal with garlands and flowers. They also distributed food items and ‘prasad’ to all the attendees.
Mohamad Zakir, a local, said that they want to give the message of communal harmony and they have been celebrating this festival for the last 17 years.
“Harmony and love are more important than any other communal thing. We wanted to install a Ganesha idol and send a message to society. We are doing it for the last 17 years. There was not much communal atmosphere and Hindu-Muslim issues earlier, it started only due to politics. I would like to request whoever creates such tensions to please allow us to live peacefully,” Zakir said.
Mandya Superintendent of Police Yatish N also participated in the celebration and said that the festival is being celebrated peacefully. “The festival is being celebrated at more than 1,800 places across the district. Here also, the festival is being celebrated peacefully, and there is no issue in Mandya as of now. We have made adequate arrangements for the festivals,” the SP said. (ANI)