KANPUR: Days after communal flare-up in Shamshabad area of Agra, a Muslim man in Kanpur's Barra Vishwa Bank locality has come out as a perfect example of communal harmony.

S Ahmed, his wife and three children have been celebrating Janmashtami for the last 29 years by performing all necessary rituals related to the birth of Lord Krishna at their home which they say has brought them "happiness and prosperity".

"Idol of Lord Krishna is placed in a swing and after the birth at midnight, Hindu and Muslim neighbours gather around for devotional songs, dance and exchange gifts," Ahmed told TOI.

"My family and I have great 'shraddha' (faith) in Lord Krishna and have been celebrating Janmashtami for the last 29 years," he said.

Ahmed, further said that he got inspired by Dewa-Sharif, a shrine of famous Sufi saint-Waris Ali Shah-in Barabanki district, which is also his birth place. "There people of all religions including Muslims and Hindus together offer 'chadar' on the grave of great Sufi-saint," he said.

People gather in large numbers to see Lord Krishna's tableau set up by Ahmed at his house.

Hindu community in the locality is grateful to him for setting a precedent of Hindu-Muslim unity .

"This has not only brought "happiness and prosperity" to the family and strengthened their faith in the Lord, but also spread a message of love, peace and brotherhood in the locality. Ahmed 'bhai' has now become a symbol of communal harmony in the area," said Minakshi, one of Ahmed's neighbours.

