Imam’s Attukal Pongala appeal goes viral

T'puram: A gesture by the Palayam mosque imam has gone viral on social media platforms, highlighting the strong secular foundations of Kerala. Imam V P Suhaib Moulavi urged members of the Muslim community to open their homes and mosques for women and children who are coming for Attukal Pongala.
Imam Moulavi made this appeal during the Friday prayers at Palayam mosque. He urged people to keep water and food ready for the devotees, even though members of the Muslim community will be fasting during the month of Ramzan. In his prayer speech, the imam said, "It is during Ramzan that Pongala is taking place, like last year. So, let us give the experiences of love and brotherhood of Ramzan to the sisters and their children. We should offer drinking water and Ramzan delicacies to the devotees. We should make arrangements for them to rest. Our masjids and houses should be opened to them. It is only through love and brotherhood that we will be able to oppose the Islamophobia that is growing in the country and across the world." Meanwhile, imam Moulavi told TOI, "This was not a special request. We do this every year. The advice was to make sure people were prepared. Pongala festival is during Ramzan. That is the only difference." In the context of the controversy over the Hindu film ‘The Kerala Story 2', the call became popular and was being discussed, he said. The Palayam mosque usually opens its doors for the devotees who come for Attukal Pongala. Meanwhile, ministers, including V Sivankutty, shared the imam's speech, calling it "the real Kerala story". The Palayam junction, where the mosque, a church and a temple are located close by, is often portrayed as a stellar example of communal harmony. Several people posted videos on social media platforms to counter the supposed narrative with regards to ‘The Kerala Story 2'.