Muslim martial arts performers rehearse for the Ram Navami procession. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, March 27: Suman Prasad does not remember the last time he celebrated Ram Navami without his neighbour Naseem Khan.

Be it Dussehra, Diwali or Ram Navami, for Prasad and for all the Hindu families on Gouri Shankar Road in Jugsalai, no celebrations can be complete without their friendly Muslim neighbours.

“Since 1937, local Muslims have been part of the Ram Navami celebrations here. From making flags to the procession and even distributing the prasad, Muslims here are part of it all,” said Prasad, general secretary of Sri Vishnu Seva Samiti, a small temple located in the middle of the all-Muslim colony.

The temple stands out as a model for communal harmony with almost half a dozen committee members being Muslims. And it definitely is not a lone example in the city.

At Dhatkidih, around 15 Muslim boys are part of the martial arts troupe in the Bajrang Akhara, a trend that has continued for generations. “It has been about 40 years now that the Muslims have been part of these celebrations,” said Azim Khan, vice-president of the state BJP minority wing, also a resident of Dhatkidih.

For generations, people living in the narrow bylanes of Dhatkidih have been actively involved in the festivities. And it is not only the young. Communal love sees no age barrier. Every year, senior Muslims construct stalls and shelters to serve sherbet and cold water to the devotees.

“We do not remember when it all began. All we can recall is that we have been putting up stalls on Ram Navami ever since,” said Khan.

But for Mansoor Ali, president of the central mosque in Sakchi, this year’s celebrations would not be the same.

“We always look forward to this day, as a small shelter is built near the mosque gate for people to take rest during the procession. But from this year the routes have changed and we will not be able to make this arrangement, nonetheless, we will put up a huge banner on the main Sakchi roundabout,” he said with enthusiasm.