Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV/MS)
Mangaluru, Jan 8: A Muslim youth's act of dressing up as Hindu deity Koragajja and dancing with his friends at his wedding reception party in Salethur has evoked sharp criticism from the Muslim community. Muslim leaders as well as scholars have condemned the act and called for police intervention.
The groom, Umarullal Bashith, a resident of Uppala near Manjeshwar, arrived at the house of his bride in Salethur with more than 50 of his friends for dinner. The groom's party made him wear cap made of arecanut plant and took him in a procession. They even painted him like Koragajja and made him dance and filmed it. The video of the dance went viral on social media, enraging sections of the public. Cases have been registered against the groom and his family.
Former mayor K Ashraf, who is also the president of Dakshina Kannada Muslim Federation (Okkuta) strongly condemned the incident. "By dressing up as their deity, the bridegroom has insulted a faith practised by people of the region. It is highly condemnable," he said.
K Ashraf
File photo of incident
"Such an act goes against the marriage rituals of the Muslim community. The behaviour of the groom and his friends in a marriage ceremony cannot be defended under any circumstance. Such an act in a communally sensitive area is condemnable. Dakshina Kannada Muslim Federation(Okkuta) urges the police department to take action against those responsibile for insulting the faith of a community," Ashraf said.
Several Muslim scholars were quoted in the local media vehemently condemning the act, clarifying that such derogatory acts that insult another faith are not permissible in Islam.
G M Mohammed Kamil Saqafi, state organizing secretary of SYS was quoted as saying, "Marriage is bound by religion and culture, and has special limits. The rule says that whether the person is rich or poor, he or she should not cross those limits. Our society is facing many issues with regard to marriage functions. The tradition of ‘Thala’ is also one of the customs. The visit of the groom to the house of bride on the first night after marriage for dinner is called as ‘Thala’. Special dinner is served on that day. This is celebrated by the close family members of the bride and groom. But the act of adding unnecessary colour to this tradition and hurting the sentiments of other religions in addition to causing disturbance to neighbourhood is condemnable."
"Some Muslim youths are trying to defame the holy custom of marriage in Islam by some irreligious and illicit acts in modern days. This is highly condemnable. Such people should be boycotted by respective mohalla and jamats. However, the act of some others who have given communal colour to an isolated act in an attempt to disturb the harmony is also condemnable. Leaders of all communities should get together and make an effort to keep peace in the area of Vittal," he said.
Moulana Darimi of SYS also condemned the incident and said that it had brought bad name to the religion.
"This issue has to be taken seriously by the Muslim community. Muslims themselves should register a case against the people involved in this act. This is not at all in line with the religion of Islam. Through this act, we have insulted our own religion. Religious leaders should take corrective action on this matter," he urged.