RAJKOT:

, who set a shining example of communal brotherhood by cremating their father’s Hindu friend by wearing janoi (sacred thread), have completed all the post-death rituals by adhering to Brahmin customs.

Abu Qureshi and his two brothers Naseer and Zuber had worn dhotis and janoi in Saturday to cremate Bhanushankar Pandya, their father’s friend for five decades, in Savarkundla town of Amreli.

On Wednesday, Nasir’s son Arman, who had lit the pyre, got his head tonsured as per the Brahmin ritual. He also performed immersion of Pandya’s ashes amid chanting of hymns in Damodar Kund in Junagadh. Damodar Kund on the foothills of Girnar is considered to be sacred lake by Hindus and the ashes of deceased persons are immersed here as it is believed that they attain moksha (liberation).

“I always considered Bhanushankar dada as my grandfather. I performed all the rituals as he loved me like a grandson,” Arman said.

The family is also observing the 12-days mourning and feeding the cows with sheera (sweet made from semolina) made from ghee. The women of Qureshi family, who religiously offer namaz five times a day, cooked the sheera and donated some belongings of Pandya to Brahmins as per the rituals and guidance of a local priest.

Qureshi brothers also work as casual labourers in the town, but their difficult financial situation was not deterrent to spending on rituals.

Pandya, who died at the age of 66, was the close friend of Qureshi brothers’ father, and lived with the family for nearly five decades.

They both started working as labourers in Savarkundla town and it was Qureshi who offered Pandya to live with him since the latter had no one in the family.