In a rare display of respect towards another community, Muslims have joined their Hindu brethren in celebrating the Durga puja festival in a coastal Odisha village.
Like every year, the Durga puja festivities are being celebrated with fanfare and enthusiasm at Ghhatakula chowk of Palasudha village under Garadapur block in the coastal district of Kendrapara.
According to Prafulla Kumar Singh, the president of the Palasudha Durga puja committee, since 2008, both Hindus and Muslims have been organising the puja festivity in the village.
With the initiatives of the late Golekha Singh, the Hindus and Muslims of the village started the Durga puja for the first time in 2008.
Since then, the puja festivity has been organized with the participation of both communities.
Every year, before the festivity both Hindus and Muslims, used to sit and chalk out plans to observe the puja with much pomp and brotherhood, said Prafulla Kumar Samal, a villager.
For the last two years, the villagers had toned down the celebrations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But this year, the puja festivity has seen good participation and enthusiasm as the COVID-19 restrictions are no longer in existence.
