NEPAL: Baluwa tole in Mahadevpatti is a predominantly Muslim community where Hindus comprise just 10 households out of the total of 150.  Muslims in the community have now taken initiative to build a temple there and give their Hindu neighbors a place to worship, since the village does not have one. Some Muslim families have contributed as much as Rs. 50,000.

The Muslims are building the temple this time because they want to reciprocate the goodwill shown by local Hindu families during the construction earlier of mosques in the village. The Hindu families had contributed money and labor to construct two mosques. The community also has a long tradition of celebrating each other’s festivals and cultural events. Hindus invite Muslims during Dashain for meals, while Muslims do the same during Eid and on other occasions.

Read more: Communal Harmony