Bappa in mosque: Ganesh festival fosters harmony in Maharashtra village
Sangli (PTI): A village here in Maharashtra has been witnessing a unique Ganesh festival celebration for more than four decades with the installation of the lord Ganesha's idol in a mosque.
Religious tensions elsewhere have never impacted the residents of Gotkhindi village in Sangli district, having a population of nearly 15,000, including 100 families belonging to the Muslim community, a local Ganesh mandal founder, Ashok Patil, told PTI.
Muslims are also members of the mandal. They participate in the preparation of ‘prasad’ (offering), join in prayers and assist in the festival arrangements, the 60-year-old resident said.
The tradition began in 1980 when members of the Hindu and Muslim communities decided to move a Ganpati idol inside a mosque at Gotkhindi village in Sangli district due to heavy rains, he said.
“The practice has continued peacefully since then, and there is active participation from the Muslim community. The New Ganesh Tarun Mandal at Jhunjar Chowk in the village was set up in 1980,” Patil said.
The idol is kept in the mosque for the 10-day celebration and then immersed in a local water body during the culmination of the festival on Anant Chaturdashi.
Once Bakar Eid and Ganesh Chaturthi dates coincided, prompting the Muslims to celebrate their festival only by offering namaz and not ‘qurbani’, Patil said. “They even avoid meat during Hindu festivals,” he added.
“The entire country should take inspiration from the social and religious harmony here,” he said.
Patil said the local police and tehsildar are invited for the ‘pran pratistha’ (consecration) of the Ganesh idol every year.
The 10-day Ganpati festival commenced from August 27 this year.
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KKR defeat LSG via Super Over
Lucknow (PTI): Kolkata Knight Riders edged Lucknow Super Giants via Super Overs in a battle between two bottom-placed teams in the IPL, here on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 156, LSG suffered a batting collapse and managed to tie the contest and take it to Super Over with No. 9 Mohammed Shami striking a last-ball six against a wayward Kartik Tyagi, who leaked 16 runs in the final over.
But Sunil Narine bowled a stunning Super Over conceding just one run and taking two wickets to give KKR an easy target.
Rinku Singh then finished the chase with a boundary off first ball from Prince Yadav.
Earlier the KKR were in deep trouble with 93/7 in 15 overs but Rinku smashed a sensational 83 not out from 51 balls including four sixes in a row in the final over to lift them to 155/7.
Cameron Green (34) was the only other batter to reach double-digit scores as KKR suffered a familiar batting meltdown with Mohsin taking his maiden fifer.
In reply, LSG continued their dismal show with the bat to succumb to their fifth loss in a row.
Brief Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 155/7; 20 overs (Rinku Singh 83 not out, Cameron Green 34; Mohsin Khan 5/23). Lucknow Super Giants 155/8; 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 42). KKR won via Super Over.
