Odisha: Muslim man pays Rs 50k for release of Goddess Durga’s ‘mortgaged’ jewellery
By C. R. Beura
Cuttack, Oct.18 : Exhibiting an uncommon bond of brotherhood and fellow-feeling, a Muslim man of Odisha’s Cuttack city on Tuesday came forward to see that the local Durga puja committee celebrates the Dussehra with all enthusiasm and fervor.
Apart from making his own financial contributions, the man released the committee’s mortgaged gold ornaments by paying from his own pocket to see that the Goddess Durga is adorned with these precious embellishments and dazzled during the puja. The Muslim devotee, Sk Liaquddin Ahmed of Sutahat in Cuttack city, paid Rs 50,000 to release the ornaments from a local financial institution.
“Sutahat is a small part of the city and we do not have enough income sources due to the lack of a good-size market. We observe Durga puja by collecting money from the residents. For development works of the committee, we had taken some loans by giving gold ornaments. A meeting was held and we felt that ornaments were required. Hence, I decided to give the money and bring back the ornaments,” said Ahmed.
Ahmed further said he has been associated with the Sutahat Puja Committee for over years now. “Cuttack is known for its universal brotherhood. I am happy that I was able to contribute in whatever means for the puja,” he added.
Another member of the committee said, “The discussion was limited to the committee members and it was then Sk Liaquddin Ahmed volunteered to donate the money for the release of the mortgaged ornaments. It shows his love for Goddess Durga.”
Sutahat has a sizable number of Muslims. Both male and female members of the community participate in Durga puja.
Cuttack city, which is more than one thousand years old, witnesses nearly two hundred puja mandaps coming up during Dussehra. However, the city has never seen any kind of communal commotion in its history.
