Uttar Pradesh covers mosques with tarpaulins during Hindu Holi festival
The measure touches 10 places of worship along the path of a Hindu procession during which participants throw coloured powder at each other. This year's celebration coincides with Islamic Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. The authorities remain on maximum alert. Catholic priest laments that the Muslim community is “living in fear” of attacks by Hindus.
Delhi (AsiaNews) – In a surprise decision, Uttar Pradesh (northern India) has decided to cover 10 mosques with tarpaulin during the Holi festival, scheduled for tomorrow, to avoid communal violence.
Millions of Hindus take part in the traditional celebration in India, but also Nepal, throwing coloured powder at each other to mark the end of winter and the triumph of good over evil.
However, this year the holy day falls on a Friday during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and prayer, a concurrence that has not occurred for many years.
Recent statements by government leaders and officials from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), calling on Muslims to stay home if they are bothered by the colours, have inflamed passions.
At the same time, some officials have proposed to cover Islamic places of worship with special tarpaulins. To avoid confrontations, prominent Islamic leaders in the northern state plan to move Friday prayers to 2 pm.
In a meeting with the press focused on the preparations for the holiday, Sambhal Police Superintendent Shrish Chandra said that the decision was made to maintain confessional harmony and make it easier for the two communities to celebrate their respective holidays with joy and cheerfulness.
The police officer confirmed that an agreement was reached to change Friday prayers and “Chaupai” processions, so that the two sensitive events do not overlap.
“A total of ten mosques have been identified which fall in the proposed route of the Chaupai procession. All of them will be covered to prevent any disturbance or tension between the two communities," he said.
At the same time, this Friday, the ritual prayer, “Namaaz” (Salah), will take place before or after the Holi procession and only Muslim worshippers will be able to access the mosque premises.
The mosques involved are the Shahi Jama Masjid, Ladania Wali Masjid, Thaane Wali Masjid, Ek Raat Masjid, Gurdwara Road Masjid, Gol Masjid, Khajoor Wali Masjid, Anaar Wali Masjid, and Gol Dukaan Wali Masjid.
A meeting was also held recently at the Sambhal police station to promote peace and dialogue, during which religious leaders discussed ways to prevent incidents.
Speaking to AsiaNews about the issue, Fr Anand Mathew, a member of the Indian Missionary Society (IMS) in Varanasi, explained that the local Muslim community lives “literally in fear”.
“In Varanasi there were a few physical attacks on the Muslim community. Some 14 Muslim youth have been arrested and are in the jail; some among them are minors and are in the juvenile home,” he said. All this is based on “false allegations. Hindu organisations and the police seem to be in nexus, playing the communal card.”
In view of the situation, “Yesterday I took a delegation of the Citizens Forum to see the assistant police commissioner, asking him to ensure the impartiality of the police force. There were four serious cases of attack and arrests in the Muslim community in the past one month.”
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12/09/2022 18:34
