A day after seven members of a Hindu family were killed in a road accident at Padder, the Muslim community at Mothi village of Marmat in Doda celebrated Eid-ul-Zuha with simplicity this year.
Eidgah management committee head Abdul Wahid Wani said, “We celebrated Eid with simplicity and performed only important rituals because of Tuesday’s accident. People in the village are in a grief due to the accident.”
“We offered special prayers for those who lost their lives in the road accident. We also appealed to the people to support the family financially,” Wani said.
“We have been living in communal harmony for centuries and have never seen any bitterness even when militancy was at its peak in Doda,” he added.
Rayes Wani, a local, said, “Eid was celebrated with simplicity and not with pomp and show this time. People offered prayers for those who lost their lives.”
A close relative of victims’ family, Kundan Lal, said, “Thousands turned up for the last rites and offered full support to the family, not only emotionally, but financially as well. We are thankful to all the people who came forward to do their bit in a difficult time.”
Social worker Satish Sharma said, “We will provide free education to their children and financial support to the family. We have also collected Rs 35,000 for the family and have also started a helpline where people can contribute.”
Ranjit Singh (Tribune)
