Joint Shia-Sunni Eid namaz, all-religion Eid milan sends out message of brotherhood

Lucknow: Standing together in rows side by side with some folded hands (as per Sunnis) and others swinging loose (for Shias), Shias and Sunni in the city offered the second consecutive joint Eid namaz at Imambara Shahnajaf on Tuesday, sending out a message of communal harmony to the world.
A citizen- driven initiative- Shoulder to Shoulder that started with the cause through joint prayers on Eid-ul-Zuha last year, also organised an all-religion Eid Milan with sewaiyan served by Sikh sevadars with presence from Christian and Hindu priests bringing people together on a common cause of harmony.
While last year the prayers were held at Imambara Sibtainabad (a Shia religious shrine), namaz was led by a Sunni Imam. This year, too, Sunni Maulana Qamar Alam lead the congregation at Shahnajaf (replica of the mausoleum of Imam Ali in Najaf) on Eid. A special discourse by Maulana Kalbe Sadiq -- Shia cleric and senior vice president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board -- preceded the prayers.
Though prayers were offered by men, women and children from all religions were seen at the Eid Milan on the same venue with around a 1,000 people greeting each other as the Sikh sevadars extended their services with hospitality.
"We all come from one God, one soul. Fighting amongst us then in the name of God is our biggest mistake," said Dr Gurmeet Singh, prabandak Yahiyaganj Gurdwara standing on the sidelines with folded hands, as his Muslim brethren offered namaz. "The message is clear and us reaching even our children and generations ahead,"said Anil Bajaj, president of the Bhartiye Punjabi Association.
Father Ronald D'Souza second in command after the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lucknow also present at the event from the beginning said, "this is the ultimate service to God, to bring the hearts of people together and save humanity."