NEPAL: In the spirit of “communal harmony” and interreligious dialogue, hundreds of Muslims have joined Hindu believers to celebrate the feast of Dashain.  In Nepalgunj, a town in the western part of the country, the occasion has special significance thanks to the presence of Muslim leaders and faithful who have exchanged gifts, embraces, and good wishes with the Hindus.

Appreciation for the presence of Muslim faithful has been expressed by Indian leaders, as highlighted by Damodar Gautam, president of the Nepalese section of the World Hindu Federation: “We are never against communal harmony. If celebration of festival together with other religious people prevails in communal harmony, then we are ready to celebrate Isamic or Christian or any other religious festival.”

This sentiment is echoed by the president of the Nepalese Muslim Federation, Nazrul Hasan, who says that he is “happy” at the sharing of the feast, and reveals that he has received “a special blessing from Hindu leaders,” just as he had done previously on the occasion of the celebration of the Eid, the feast that concludes the sacred month of Ramadan.

Read more: Communal Harmony