Dehradun, Aug 22: The Sikhs of Joshimath, a small town in the state of Uttarakhand, have set an example by allowing the Muslim community to offer namaaz at their gurdwara on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

About 800 Muslims offered Eid prayers at a gurdwara in Joshimath in Uttarakhand on Monday after incessant rainfall prevented them from praying at a ground which they normally used for prayers in the absence of a mosque there.
Buta Singh said the gurdwara management’s decision sent out the right message. “God is one but is worshipped in different ways. So when the Muslim community requested to offer namaaz in the gurdwara, we allowed them. It sent a message of communal harmony.”
Accepting the large-hearted invitation, many of the town's Muslim residents entered the gurdwara at 9.30 a.m and participated in the Eid namaaz. Subsequently the Sikhs and the Muslims embraced each other. Some Hindus too joined in the Eid celebrations there.
Afterwards, Sardar Buta Singh said that he had invited the Muslims to the gurdwara since they were not able to offer worship in the open due to the downpour.

Hailing the gurdwara committee's exemplary humanity, Maulvi Asif thanked it for the solving the problem which the Muslims had been facing. He added that the committee had shown everyone how to respect all religions.

Joshimath, 250 kms away from Rishikesh, is situated near two famous places of worship - Badrinath and Hemkunt Sahib. Lakhs of Hindus flock to the former all throughout the year while the latter is an important pilgrimage centre of Sikhs.