Durga Puja and two other festivals have been celebrated in this temple and mosque for 40 years without fail. There have been no interruptions so far. This great model of religious harmony exists on the banks of the Chitra River in the Mahishkhola area of Narail, Bangladesh. The property has a church on one side and a temple on the other. Hindus and Muslims flock here every day to pray. Continuing the 40-year tradition, Mahishkhola residents gathered again this year to celebrate Durga Puja.
Hindus and Muslims have celebrated their holidays with mutual respect for nearly four decades. Enthusiastically participating in each other’s celebrations has become a tradition here over the years. The Jame Masjid and the adjacent temple set the example.
Temple – Mahishkhola Sarbojanin Puja Mandir was founded in 1980. Both shrines were built on government land by local residents who came to show the power of community harmony. The mosque, temple and hospital are located on this government land. A charity hospital called “Sharif Abdul Hakim and Narail Express Hospital” was built under the leadership of former Bangladeshi cricketer and Awami League leader Mashrafe Bin Murtaza.
Subal Das, a devotee who attended Durga Puja at the temple, said: “I have heard a lot about this place. This place is a testament to the community harmony we represent. If everyone lived in such harmony, the world would be a place. much better”.
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