The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Spreading the fragrance of secularism

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Spreading the fragrance of secularism

S. Vijay Kumar

For decades, Haji K.S. Khader Hussain has been applying sandalwood paste on devotees on Vaikasi Visakam

HEARTY WELCOME: Chit Chabai, a sandalpaste merchant at Masi Street welcomes devotees to Vaikasi Visakam by sprinkling `panneer' water and applying sandal paste. — Photo: K.Ganesan

MADURAI: : Come Vaikasi Visakam, this 71-year-old Muslim gets busy.

For decades, he has been applying sandalwood paste and sprinkling `panneer' on thousands of devotees thronging the Lord Subramania Swamy temple at Tirupparankundram here.

Religion has never been barrier to Haji K.S. Khader Hussain, closely associated with the festival since 1951.

A long queue of devotees carrying milk pots and spears pierced through their cheeks waits patiently for Chitchabai, as he is fondly called, to sprinkle rose water and apply sandalwood paste.

He fasts for a fortnight before Vaikasi Visakam; his family avoids non-vegetarian food during the 10-day festival.

"I was born on a Vinayaka Chathurti day. This is not only a service to god but also an exercise that will spread the essence of communal harmony in this part of the State. I consider Hindus my brethren," he says. On Monday, a large number of devotees who regularly visit Tirupparankundram exchanged pleasantries with the septuagenarian before walking up to the hill temple.

Chitchabai is only keeping up an age-old tradition in the city that explains the Hindu-Muslim harmony during festivals. For ages, Muslims have been supplying the ingredients for performing `abishekam' to Goddess Meenakshi at the Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple.

During the Chithrai festival, business establishments, owned by Muslims, chip in to distribute `thirumangalyam' to women devotees immediately after the celestial wedding.

They also provide buttermilk, drinking water and sweets to devotees on the four Chithrai Streets.

"I have always dreamt of a society in which the people come together to celebrate festivals, shedding communal differences. Such an environment will build a strong and secular nation that will foster peace for generations to come," he says.

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