Odisha’s Kohinoor Islam Sets The Tone For Communal Harmony On Durga Puja

Bhubaneswar: Kohinoor Islam is a Muslim, but has been organising the Hindu festival of Durga Puja at his village for the past 31 years.

A resident of Tentulidinga village in Mayurbhanj district, Kohinoor has set a shining example in communal harmony by regularly offering namaaz as well as reciting Gita and Chandi Tatwa at his home.

Spiritual Quest

Kohinoor was born on the day of Pana Sankranti on April 14, 1949.

Since childhood, Kohinoor had a spiritual bent of mind and interested in reading Koran, Gita, Bhagabata, Veda and Upanishad. After his post graduation, he completed LLB. But instead of pursuing a career, he returned to his village and took up cultivation.

By this time, he has also become more spiritual and started organising the Sarbajanina Saradiya Durga Puja along with some fellow villagers at Tentulidinga village 31 years ago.

Divine Calling

Recollecting the event that triggered his for Devi Durga, Kohinoor shared, “The year was 1985. I was sitting in a tea shop one day, when I saw some women carrying prasad and going towards a temple in in Baripada. At that moment, I heard the voice of a woman.

“I felt like it was the voice of Maa Durga. She told me, ‘Kohinoor Islam, are you interested to worship me? Then arrange Durga Puja at this village. You will be successful.’ I took this as a command from the goddess and started planning to organise Durga Puja,” he added.

“The next year, i.e. 1986, I held a meeting with the villagers in this regard on the day of Ganesh Puja. Then the Tentulidinga Sarbajanina Durga Puja Committee was formed and I was made the president,” he said.

Religious Harmony

Kohinoor informed that all the rituals of Durga Puja like Bela Barani, Homa, Chandi Patha, and Bhashani at the village are performed under his guidance.

“Along with Hindu families, some Muslim families at our village also worship Maa Durga on the occasion,” he said.

Kohinoor also said, “On the day of idol immersion, I always feel as if if my mother is going far away from me.”

He also said, “With the blessings of Maa Durga, I have never taken any medicine and I never fell ill.”

Kohinoor lives a simple life and loves his fellow villagers very much. “For me, to love fellow human beings and worshiping God, there should not be any religion,” he added.