Nalbari: At a time when the communal divide in India is widening, a temple in Assam has set an example of communal harmony and brotherhood between the Hindus and Muslims. Muslims are an integral part of the daily rituals at this more than 350-year-old Billeswar Devalaya temple in Assam's Nalbari district. The Muslims living in the area now rejoice as the temple wears a festive look due to the Durga puja.
"I cannot tell you an exact date as to when the Billeswar Devalaya was established. But there are stone inscriptions that it was established by King Nagaksha, who is a contemporary of King Narakasura," informed Ranjit Mishra who is the Doloi (priest) of the temple.
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Located about 10 km from Nalbari town in Lower Assam, the Billeswar Devalaya has a unique tradition of distributing one of the plates of daily offering (Prasad) to the Muslims. Believed to have been established by Koch King Nagaksha, Billeswar Devalaya has Muslims as an integral part of the daily rituals. The Muslims who live nearby takes part in the daily rituals and festivals like Durga puja with the same enthusiasms as their Hindu counterparts.
"We are involved in the daily rituals of the temple since the King donated lands to our forefathers here. The King had also made the rule that one of the plates of the offering will go to the people of the Muslim community. The King had made our community the judge for any disputes that occur in the temple that is why we were given the title of Hujuri. We have been maintaining the same relationship, there is no divide as Hindu or Muslims here. Members of our Muslim committee are also given the role in the temple management committee." said Haji Sonali who is the Hujuri of the temple.
The historical temple is a unique example of communal harmony in Assam. As per locals, King Nagaksha had engaged these people from the Muslim community to serve the temple. Since centuries the communal divide has not been able to affect the centuries-old bond between the people of both the communities. With the Durga Puja round the corners, it is not only the Hindus in and around the Billeswar Devalaya but also the Muslims who are rejoicing for the festivities.
