New Delhi:
It's festival season and a family in the capital is the ideal portrayal of the mood during the season - Eid and Navratra are celebrated with equal enthusiasm and fervour.
Ghulam Mohammed is married to a Gujarati Hindu girl Chetna for the past 13 years. He loves composing songs, and through them he wants to spread peace and brotherhood.
And religion has never been an issue between the two.
"I think I am fortunate because earlier I celebrated Muslim festivals alone. Now, I get to celebrate all others too," a delighted Ghulam Mohammad said.
Ghulam got married to Chetna at a time when the Ram Mandir issue had the country divided. Chetna's family came round soon enough, but the society didn't. Fearing a backlash she changed her name to Ziba.
"After my parents met him they accepted him. But they thought I would get killed," Ziba said.
But that apart, pooja and namaz are offered in the same room in the house. And now, with Ramzan fasts ending, it is time to indulge in the Navratra festivities. The family usually heads to Gujarat every year, but with their son Kabir's exams still going on, the couple heads to a local dandiya do.
For families such as these there is Ram in Ramzan and Ali in Diwali, and for those who do believe caste and religion does matter this should be a reality check.
Ghulam Mohammed is married to a Gujarati Hindu girl Chetna for the past 13 years. He loves composing songs, and through them he wants to spread peace and brotherhood.
And religion has never been an issue between the two.
"I think I am fortunate because earlier I celebrated Muslim festivals alone. Now, I get to celebrate all others too," a delighted Ghulam Mohammad said.
Ghulam got married to Chetna at a time when the Ram Mandir issue had the country divided. Chetna's family came round soon enough, but the society didn't. Fearing a backlash she changed her name to Ziba.
"After my parents met him they accepted him. But they thought I would get killed," Ziba said.
But that apart, pooja and namaz are offered in the same room in the house. And now, with Ramzan fasts ending, it is time to indulge in the Navratra festivities. The family usually heads to Gujarat every year, but with their son Kabir's exams still going on, the couple heads to a local dandiya do.
For families such as these there is Ram in Ramzan and Ali in Diwali, and for those who do believe caste and religion does matter this should be a reality check.
