Muslim family observes kids’ ‘mundan’ ceremony in Giridih

DHANBAD: A traditional Muslim family observed the ‘mundan ceremony’ (ceremonial tonsuring) of their two children – both boys -- at Giridih’s based

Jharkhand Dham

temple on the occasion of Basant Panchami on Wednesday. The family believed that the birth of the two children is because of blessings of Baba Jharkhandi Nath (Lord Shiva).

The family also performed all relevant rituals starting on Wednesday with ‘tilak utsav’ of Lord Shiva and concluding with ‘dugdha abhishek’ (pouring milk and water along with other ingredients on the Shivalinga) on Thursday.

In 2014, the 65-year-old farmer Pir Mohammad of Taranakho village at Rajdhanwar block in Giridih was worried when no children were born in his family for decades. He prayed for several days at the Jharkand Dham temple. Pir Mohammad, who had two married sons, promised to perform all relevant rituals if his wish came true.

The 38-year-old Amisha Khatun, the youngest daughter-in-law of Pir Mohammad and mother of the two-year-old Sahil, said: “My sister in-law and I became mothers after he visited the temple. Though our father-in-law died a couple of months ago, we did not forget his promise to the Almighty. Our family had no children for almost 20 years, but we were blessed with two male children within 45 days.”

Pir’s elder son Gulshan (40) said: “There is nothing like caste, class or religion in the eyes of God.”

Subhash Panda, president of the Jharkhandi Nath Mahadeo Sthan Nyay Samiti, who with the help of another priest, Manoj Panda, performed the ceremonies, said: “The most important thing is that despite several constraints, both the couples and all their family members followed the rituals and wore the clothes as require.”