Here in our city… GODS UNITE ALL

A day after Somnath Temple banned the entry of non-Hindus without permission,Mirror's Kuldeep Tiwari and Rupsa Chakraborty visited the temples in the cityposing as a Muslim couple. To their surprise, they were warmly welcomed notonly by the temple staff and the security guards but also by the devotees.This, in a city that saw one of the worst communal riots in the country in 2002and earned itself the ignominy of being religiously intolerant

BHADRAKALI TEMPLE

LAL DARWAZA

When the reporters arrived at the temple posing as a Muslim couple who had come to seek the goddess's blessings, a group of women cops got up and welcomed them. The reporters found it quite surprising. The cops took them inside the temple, and requested the priest to offer them the prasad. Citing security reasons, a woman cop asked our reporter to lift her veil. “This is just part of routine check. Please do not take any offence. Everyone is welcome here. Do come again,“ said the cop. She also familiarised the duo with the temple's rich heritage before seeing them off with a smile.

JAGANNATH TEMPLE | JAMALPUR

THE REPORTERS, posing as Muslims, reached the temple premises 15 minutes before the sanctum is opened to the worshippers. The cops allowed them inside the temple and asked them to wait till the sanctum was opened for dar shan. The devotees were surprised to see a Muslim couple in the queue, but were cooperative and more than happy to explain to them the temple's historical importance. The priest even offered the reporters the gangajal without any hesitation. Before carrying out the mandatory security checks that required the woman reporter to lift her veil, the cops offered an apology, saying, they had to adhere to the security protocol. “We do not intend to hurt anybody's religious sentiments. But security check is mandatory. Do come again.“

SWAMINARAYAN TEMPLE | MANSI CROSSROADS

WHEN REPORTERS posing as a Muslim couple entered the temple, the environment was calm and quiet with devotional songs playing inside the building. Devotees from all age groups were seen chanting quietly, prayer beads in hand. When they noticed a Muslim couple amid them, they looked surprised but soon grew comfortable and went back to their prayers. The reporters touched the feet of Lord Swaminarayan idol, took a stroll around the complex and left without anyone paying them much attention.

ISKCON TEMPLE | SG HIGHWAY

LIKE OTHER HINDU devotees, the reporters were also allowed inside for the darshan. No one took special note of them. They took a tour of the temple, but neither the devotees, nor the sadhus questioned them. In fact, several devotees exchanged warm smiles with the reporters, to ensure the latter felt comfortable.

GURUDWARA GOBIND DHAM | S G HIGHWAY

LIKE ALL SIKH devotees, the reporters entered the gurudwara after wash ing their feet and covering their heads. After the prayer, the granthi offered them the prasad. Everyone seemed comfortable in the pres ence of two non-Sikh visitors. When the duo enquired about the drinking water facility, the devotees guided them to the proper place.

DERASAR | NAVRANGPURA

WHEN THE reporters entered the derasar, the priest and the devotees were chanting shlokas. The duo walked past them to seek the bless ings of the deity. Nobody stopped or questioned them. The duo even waited at the derasar, half expect ing somebody to question them. But the devotees were warm and cordial. Re porters did not face any dis crimination.

SAMARTHESHWAR MAHADEV TEMPLE | LAW GARDEN

THERE MIGHT be a controversy brewing at the Somnath Temple, but our reporters did not face any dis crimination at this Shiv temple. In fact, on asking for the prasad, the priest offered it without hesita tion. The devotees were also comfortable seeing a Muslim couple offer prayers at the temple.