Varanasi Muslim lady makes Hindu gods idols

Varanasi, Jul 30: Despite occasional conflicts in the name of religion, there have been so many examples of communal harmony between Hindus and Muslims when people have risen above communal considerations and emerged clear winners.

One such winner is Nanhi Begum, a resident of Varanasi, who despite being a Muslim earns her livelihood by making idols of Hindu gods. She has been making the idols of Hindu gods for the past 15 years after she lost her husband. In fact, it was her husband who introduced her to the art of making idols. She took to it as a vocation after her husband's demise.

She feels proud that even after being a Muslim she is making idols of Hindu gods.

"My experience has been really good. I love carving these idols. I feel proud that I do such a noble deed. This is even what our culture teaches us; to stay untied," said Nanhi.

In this endeavour, she has full support of her family and peers. They help her in everyway from giving finishing touches to taking the products to the market.

"We feel proud that even after being a Muslim, we do this work," said, Maykash, a relative.

That idols of Hindu god's made by a Muslim lady and worshipped by Hindus with full faith clearly indicates that religion is not a dividing force. By Girish Kumar Dubey

ANI