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Kendrapara ( Orissa) : Displaying communal harmony and brotherhood, Muslims in Manakpur village of Kendrapara district have joined hands with their neighbouring Hindu brethrens to celebrate the annual Gaja Laxmi festivities.
Excitement and gaiety has been palpable among the communities in celebrating the festival since the dawn of Independence, in the village, where about 15 families of minority community were residing.
''Every year we participate in the puja to show our involvement,'' Sk Liaquat Hussain, one of the inhabitants of the village, said.
According to Kandarasura Badha Puja organisers of Manakarpur, the Muslims had lent their hands to the Hindu villagers in celebrating the nine-day long festival.
This year, some of the Muslims had involved themselves to decorate the pandal of Kandarasura Badha. They even collected funds to make the festivity a grand one in their areas and donated huge amounts for the immersion of the deity.
Villagers said one Sk Farzan, a Muslim, who died 16 years back, had started the Kandarasura Badha Medha for the first time with other Hindu brethrens in the village.
Interestingly, a Muslim couple had been inducted into some of the office bearer posts in the Basudev Club of Manakarpur, Secretary of Puja Committee Nimai Sahu said.
