VADODARA: The traditional Ganesh puja , cow worship and Hindu 'Fuleku' custom wherein the bride and bridegroom are taken out on a round of the village by their relatives are some of the practices even followed by the Muslim Maldhari community living in the Banni region of the Greater Rann of Kutch.

A study conducted by a researcher of MS University on Maldharis revealed how the community has adopted Hindu traditions in their culture. These Maldharis, the cattle rearers, most of whom were Muslims, had migrated from Sindh in Pakistan before partition.

Banni region today houses around 51 villages with a population of over 18,000 where Muslims and Hindus live together in harmony. Maldharis live in 'bhungas' - uniquely designed huts made of bamboos, special grass and soil.

"Hindus and Muslims celebrate every festival together. Various fairs are held as a part of their tradition wherein the Hindus and Muslims participate together. Qawalis and Hindu bhajans are sung together at musical programmes.

They follow the tradition of 'athithi devo bhava' and would refrain from consuming meat when a Hindu visits them," said Dr Bharat Pandya, who studied the life, culture and traditions of Maldharis as part of the research study.

Pandya's study 'A cultural study of the folk life, folk arts and folk literature of the Maldharis of the Banni region' aims at providing exposure to the indigenous culture of the Banni which has a rich history of tradition, literature and culture.

"The traditional Ganesh puja before a wedding ceremony, Fuleku, setting up of a mandap and the ritual of peethi or haldi ceremony before the wedding is practised by the Muslim Maldharis. Some of them were Hindus before their conversion to Islam and hence they have continued with this tradition," Pandya said.

"There are two areas called Banni and 'Dhar Banni'. After partition, 'Dhar Banni' went to Pakistan. The Banni area is also known as 'Piran ja Pat' meaning the land of pious people," said Kosha Acharya, a project fellow who is also involved in the study.

