We had no intention of entering the temple, we only wanted to show dhoop to Shivalinga : Clarification by organisers of Sufi festival Urs

Muslims had forcefully tried to enter the Trimbakeshwar temple

Muslim men entering the temple (Credit : Times Now)

Trimbakeshwar (Dist. Nashik) – On the night of 13th May, during a procession organised during Sufi Muslims’ Urs festival, few Muslim men insisted on entering the Trimbakeshwar temple through the North gate and offering green chadar to Shivalinga. Further disaster was prevented as the temple guards stopped the Muslims from entering. Organiser of the Sufi Urs festival, Matin Sayyad, while speaking to a news channel said, ‘The tradition of Urs in Trimbakeshwar town is an old one. The participants show dhoop (frankincense) to Trimbakeshwar from the North gate and proceed. This time too we came to show dhoop to Trimbakeshwar from the North gate. We did not try to enter inside the temple’. Matin has questioned why this controversy arose this year when the tradition is followed every year. Matin was reluctant to speak on camera though.

(Credit : Times Now)

Since the last 2 days, this controversy has erupted; but it is said the conflict was resolved the same day. The temple committee asked for a probe in the matter to the Police by submitting a request letter. The Police conducted a meeting with both the parties and declared that the conflict erupted due to misunderstanding and it has been resolved. Now, the Deputy CM of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadanvis, has ordered a SIT enquiry in the matter.

Editorial Viewpoint

Urs festival is celebrated in Sufi Islam while Hindus organise fairs at religious places. How is Urs related to Trimbakeshwar ? Muslims forcefully trying to enter the temple is not justified in any case. Would Muslims accept if Hindus forcefully entered a mosque ? The Police must take a strict action against the culprits instead of taking their usual stand of a mere onlooker !