Standing together in rows side by side with some folded hands (as per Sunnis) and others swinging loose (for Shias), Shias and Sunni in the city offered the second consecutive joint Eid namaz at Imambara Shah Najaf on Tuesday, sending out a message of communal harmony to the world

Muslims have also been joined by Hindus, Christians and Sikhs. (TOI photo)

Lucknow witnesses second joint Shia, Sunni Eid namaz and all religion Eid Milan

LUCKNOW: Standing together in rows side by side with some folded hands (as per Sunnis) and others swinging loose (for Shias), Shias and Sunni in the city offered the second consecutive joint Eid namaz at Imambara Shah Najaf on Tuesday, sending out a message of communal harmony to the world. A citizen driven initiative- Shoulder to Shoulder (S2S) that started with the cause through joint prayers on Eid-ul-Zuha last year, in addition to the Muslims praying together, also organised an all religion Eid Milan with sewaiyan served by Sikh sevadars post the prayers with presence from even Christian and Hindu priests bringing people together on a common cause of harmony.While last year the prayers were held at Imambara Sibtainabad (a Shia religious shrine), namaz was lead by a Sunni Imam. Following suit this year too Sunni Maulana Qamar Alam lead the congregation at Shah Najaf (replica of the mausoleum of Imam Ali in Najaf) on Eid Day. A special discourse by Maulana Kalbe Sadiq- Shia cleric and senior vice president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) preceded the prayers."When we came together last year, it was just Shias and Sunnis. This year it is all of us together under one roof and one cause. This has also been the ingrained secular nature of the country- to bring people together not tear them apart," he said.Though prayers were offered by men, a huge turnout of women and children from all religions was seen at the Eid Milan on the same venue post namaz with around a 1000 persons greeting each other with Eid wishes as the Sikh sevadars extended their seevices with hospitality."We all come from one God, one soul. Fighting amongst us then in the name of God is our biggest mistake," said Dr Gurmeet Singh, prabandak Yahiyaganj Gurudwara standing on the sidelines with folded hands, as his Muslim brethren offered namaz. "The message is loud and clear and us reaching even our children and generations ahead," said Anil Bajaj, president of the Bhartiye Punjabi Association.Father Ronald D'Souza second in command after the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lucknow also present at the event from the beginning said, "this is the ultimate service to God, to bring the hearts of people together and save humanity."S2S began as a citizens movement last year during Eid-ul-Zuha and since then worked together with people on several inter religious causes for keeping the syncretic nature of India alive.