Cooch Behar, Oct. 14: Seventeen-year-old Ansar Ali has still not got over the agony of losing the first prize in the arati competition during last year’s puja.

Ismail, his classmate, had pipped him to the post. But, this time around, a confident Ali wants to come up trumps. He along with Ismail and Anwar is competing for the top spot, which is also being eyed by the Sanjays, Bakuls and Bholas of Sutkabari, an hamlet, located adjacent to Cooch Behar town. The verdict, though, will be out only on Bijoyadashami.

Even as the rest of the country is torn asunder by growing communal divide, the Muslim dominated Sutkabari has broken religious barriers.

The Sutkabari puja, which was started more than three decades ago, thanks to the initiatives of the local Muslim population, brings the two communities together.

“The Hindus look after various rituals. While, the Muslims are engaged in other activities like erection of the pandal, subscription collection and immersion of the idols,” said Pallab Chakrabarty, secretary of the puja committee.

Bimal Saha, another member, echoed Chakrabarty. Sutkabari boasts of only seven Hindu families and about 90 per cent of the population comprises Muslims. “Though the Hindus are a minority here, that has never marred the puja celebrations. The Muslims make sure that the Bijoya Sammilani and other rituals are observed,” said Majeda Bibi, gram panchayat pradhan. Sujit Saha, a sweetshop owner, agreed with her.

“The communal harmony has been alive because both of us participate in each other’s festivals,”Saha said.