Cuttack: When hate speech and hate crimes have become the order of the day in many parts of India, Cuttack remains true to its tag of ‘bhaichara ra sahara’ in Odia which translates to ‘city of brotherhood’.
Cuttack is known as the city of ‘brotherhood’ or ‘bhaichaara’ as people of all religions and communities have been living here in harmony for centuries.
Be it Dasara or Eid or Christmas people of this 1000 year-old city celebrate these festivals with equal fervour irrespective of their caste, creed, faith or religion.
With just a few days left for the Durga Puja, the city is already heady with the spirit of celebration. Several puja committees in the city have office bearers from Muslim and Christian communities.
The case in point is Sri Sri Jay Durga Samiti of Sutahat.
This year sculpting of the clay idol of Maa Durga and its painting was complete. Lo and behold, former secretary of the Samiti Brahmananda Singh refused to part with the gold and silver ornaments of the Goddess unless Rs 48,000 was paid to him which he claimed to have spent from his pocket for the Durga Puja celebrations the previous year.
The office bearers of the Samiti were at their wits’ end. They called a meeting on how to overcome the crisis.
It was here a Muslim youth of the locality Liaquatuddin Ahmed stepped in. Ahmed paid Rs 48,000 to Singh to get the ornaments of the Goddess’ released.
“Making of the idol was underway. We asked our former secretary Brahmananda Singh to give the ornaments of the Goddess for cleaning and polishing. He refused to give the ornaments by stating that the Durga Samiti owed him Rs 48,000 and he would part with the ornaments after they paid his money. So I paid him his money and he returned the ornaments to our office bearers,” said Liaquatuddin Ahmed.
Ahmed told that he is very happy to have done something in the service of the goddess and a crisis has been avoided.
“This is an example of Cuttack-bhaichara ra sahara. We had called a meeting to find a solution. It is here Liaquatuddin stepped in. He paid the money and got the goddess’ ornaments back. He has been thanked by all for his noble deed,” stated Subhasis Kar, President, Sri Sri Jay Durga Samiti, Sutahat.
