comunal harmony: Hindu family observed Tazia since last 346 years in Sambalpur

What more becomes an example of communal harmony in Sambalpur when a family belongs to Hindu Family performs the rituals of Muslim community by bringing Tazia procession for generations on the day of Moharrum Locally known as ‘Hindu Tazia’ that the Padhiary family of Modipara brings every years over the past more than 3 century with out any break. More over the Hindu Tazia is also prepared by a Hindu family for generation. But the only thinks that distinguishes Modipara Tazia is that when the top (tomb) of the other Tazias are of white and green colour, here it is of red colour and coconuts are offered here by the devotees unlike the Muslims.

“I have been performing the rituals since the days of my child hood and after the death of my father I have taken the responsibility of bringing it out the procession every year as it has become a tradition of our family. This is 346th years of event since the day we our family began this procession in 1664” the elder member of the Padhiary family Lal Mohan Padhiary of Modipara of Sambalpur town told.

Although belongs to a traditional Brahmin family of the town Lal Mohan does not see any difference in the functions of the two religions. “We are give equal importance to the functions of both religions since our child-hood. So this has become our tradition in the family”,. Padhiary told.

According to him Jayadev Padhiary, one of his fore-father left the house during 1655 to avoid his marriage. He did not return home till 1663. The family members suspecting him dead performed his last rituals.

But suddenly he appeared one day in the year 1663 along with two Maulanas. They stayed for some times with him and with their inspiration, Jayadev wished to bring Tazia procession during Moharrum. Initially the Padhiary family objected it but due to his rigidness they remained silent. When the matter was public there was a lot hew and cry in the town. But it was than ruler of Sambalpur who allowed Padhiary to perform the Tazia procession. The ruler had not only allowed him to do the job but also he pleased to allot a piece of land to meet the expenses of the Tazia. “The Tazia ground of Modipara tells the truth. We bring Tazia from the same ground every year. However we perform puja as per our Hindu tradition” Padhiary told.

Jayadev had reportedly started his first Tazia procession in the year 1664.Since than the Padhiary family has been engaged in this Tazia procession. Sukdev Padhiary, the grand father of Lal Mohan was bringing out the Tazia procession and after his death, his son and father of Lal Mohan, Gouranga Padhiary took the responsibly of the Tazia procession. Since my childhood I am involved in it and now I don’t see any difference in it. I do not feel any difference between Tazia processions or Dusherra procession, Lal Mohan Padhiary franked

In the same way preparation of Tazia is also done by a Hindu family in generations. Laxmi Dutta Taria recalled how he was doing it with his father Tikeswar Taria and after his death he took up the job “I prepared Tazia decoration every year but I never feel it a festival of Muslim community rather I believe Tazia as our own, so I called it as Hindu Tazia”, Laxmi said.

More over the Padhiary family is also priest of a temple located in Modipara. The younger brother of Lal Mohan, Rajendra looks after the temple. I perform puja in the temple every day as the temple belongs to our family. “When my elder brother is looking after the Tazia procession every year I take care of the temple work:, Rajendra Padhiary told.