Kochi: People from different walks of life and faith shared a rare camaraderie at the Iftar organised by the Onam celebrations committee of the Thrikkakara and Kalammassery municipalities at the Thiruvonam Hall of the Vamanamoorthy Temple on Sunday. Being held for the second time, the event evoked the spirit of communal harmony and brotherhood, and the true spirit of Onam.
Justice C K Abdul Rahim of the Kerala High Court inaugurated the function and also released the souvenir of the temple by handing over a copy to critic and author Leelavathy. The initiative undertaken in Thrikkakara, the historic land of the Mahabali, is laudable and should be a model for all, he said. MLA Benny Behanan who presided over the function spoke about the need for such initiatives at a time when communal riots are rampant. Sulaiman Maulavi chief priest of Kalamassery Jamaat, temple authorities, director of Bharat Mata College Varghese Kalapparambath, Cusat pro Vice-Chancellor Godfrey Louis and writer Chammanam Chacko were also present.
“This is an expression of communal harmony. At a time when there is rising disharmony among the different sects of the same group and between different groups, such initiatives come as an antidote. The fact is that devotion and religious worship are increasing as seen in the rising number of faithful in temples, churches and mosques, but at the same time criminal acts are also on the rise. As a solution such events which spread the true spirit of communal harmony is the need of the hour,” said Chammanam Chacko.
Actor Aashiq Abu and director Sunil also joined the feast. Dates, fresh fruit, samosa, puff pastry, cake, ‘unnakka’, ‘tharikanji’, ‘appam’, ‘pathiri’, stew and other delicacies were distributed. Around 700 people participated in the event, well above the number of people who partook in the Iftar last year.
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