Chamoli (Uttarakhand): Muslims won't offer namaz during Eid al-Adha or Bakrid on Thursday in and around Badrinath, the temple town where the Char Dham shrine is located.
Instead, members of the minority community will celebrate their festival at Joshimath, an area tucked away 45 kms away from the temple. Apparently, an 'understanding' has been reached between Hindu and Muslim community members over the issue. Members of Badrinath Vyapar Sabha, Panda Purohit, Teerth Purohit, contractors engaged in different works in Badrinath Dham, Hindu organisations and Muslims in Thana Badrinath held a meeting.
Last year, a controversy had erupted after Muslim labourers offered namaz. Last year, a video of Muslim labourers offering Namaz at Badrinath Dham on the occasion of Eid al-Adha went viral on social media. Communal tension prevailed over the circulation of the news. Somehow, the matter was pacified after the intervention of the police and the administration. Taking a view of the issue, the administration has taken strict measures this time so that no untoward incident takes place.
The Panda community demanded that Eid prayers should not be repeated this time. At the meeting held in the presence of Laxmi Prasad Biljwan, in-charge of police station Badrinath, the Panda community maintained that Eid prayers should not be offered at Badrinath Dham. According to Hindu leaders, there was no tradition of offering Eid prayers going on here. At the same time, they also said that Badrinath Dham is a sacred place for Hindus and religious activities like namaz should not be offered here.
