Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal

Bantwal, Sep 9: During the Ganeshotsav processions, observed by the Hindu community in Kodaje and a few other places in Dakshina Kannada, the Muslim community and organizations displayed communal harmony by distributing sweets and drinks. However, in a different scenario, a letter sent by the Ganeshotsav organizing committee to the local mosque in Bolantur village, Bantwal taluk, has become a topic of widespread discussion.

Letter goes viral

The letter, dated September 2, was reportedly written on the letterhead of the Sri Siddhi Vinayaka Trust Board in Bolantur and addressed to the mosque’s management committee. The letter, which lacks any name or designation but is stamped at the bottom, has now gone viral on social media.

What’s in the letter?

The letter states, “During last year’s public Ganeshotsav procession, your community members offered drinks and sweets. Our children who consumed them became unwell. This disrupts our communal harmony. As a precaution, we kindly request your community members to refrain from offering any drinks or snacks during future processions. We request your community's cooperation in this matter for our future processions.”

This letter has sparked online debate.

Local explanation

Some dissatisfaction had been expressed regarding last year’s events, and there were concerns that a recurrence could lead to conflict. To maintain harmony, the committee decided to write to the mosque’s management. Cooperation from the mosque’s side was received, and this year’s procession concluded peacefully and joyously. It is not right to turn this into a controversy again, said Jayaram Rai, a key member of the committee.