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Varanasi displays secular fabric

Vinay Kumar

Residents foil terrorist designs

VARANASI: The bid by terrorists to create communal havoc and spread panic through bomb blasts here on March 7 seems to have failed, judging by the exemplary show of solidarity put up the citizens of this holy city. Not only did the people foil the nefarious designs of the terrorists but they also snubbed the political leaders who tried to gain political mileage out of the situation.

Leading citizens, intellectuals, businessmen, youth activists, social workers and cultural bodies organised a number of peace marches, meetings and candlelight processions to drive home the message of communal harmony and unity. Mahant Bhawani Nandan, chief of the Haathiyaram Math, has taken the lead in organising prayers for those killed in the blasts.

Besides its temples and ghats, Varanasi, also known as Kashi, is also famous for its Benarasi sarees.

"Weavers hail from both communities, and so do the traders. Their dependence on each other is intricately intertwined. It cannot be separated just because of religious and communal flare-ups. It is the culture of this land that binds them together," says Haji Badruddin, a silk trader from the Peeli Kothi area. Similar sentiments are echoed by Abdul Batin Nomani, Mufti-e-Benares, who has condemned the blasts. "Killing innocent people is upardonable in Islam.

Perpetrators of such crimes should be given exemplary punishment," he says, adding that attempts to politicise such incidents and instigate the people should be condemned.

Both the cleric and Prof. Veerbhadra Mishra, chief mahant of the Sankat Mochan temple, worked overtime to ensure that the unique socio-cultural fabric of the city was not torn.

Though the flow of foreign tourists has gone down, tourist guides say their arrival tapers in March; the attack has resulted in only a few cancellations.

"It is so different and enchanting. We are enjoying this spiritual atmosphere, boat rides on the Ganga and the majestic ghats," said Irene and Rita, students from California on the first leg of their South Asia tour.

Another group of tourists from Italy, Switzerland, Japan and Canada echo similar sentiments. "Though we were thinking of cancelling our visit, we decided to give it a try. After all, terrorist strikes are happening everywhere. There is just that wafer-thin margin between life and death," say Susan and Erleen, first-time visitors to India.

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