by Avijit Biswas
Bhagalpur: Md Aftab Alam, resident of Kajichak locality here has hardly any spare time at present. These days he is busy preparing scared thread (Baddhi) that would be required during Chhath Puja. Alam is in business of preparing scared thread required for Hindu rituals and pujas for long time.
Members of previous generation in his family also used to prepare sacred thread. Alam is not only Muslim here involved in business of preparing sacred thread. As per a rough estimate more than 50 Muslim families residing in Husseinabad, Nathnagar and Kajichak localities of city prepare sacred thread that is offered on soop during Chhath puja.
Preparing scared thread for different Hindu puja and rituals is livelihood for such families in number of cases. The female members of such families in particular are actively involved in preparing sacred thread. Maintaining cleanliness and purity to best possible extent the scared threads are prepared for Chhath puja, the Muslim community members involved in preparing sacred thread said.
The members added they have no reservation or inhibition about preparing sacred thread rather they feel happy doing their work for puja purpose. From business point of view Chhath Puja is prime time for them when there is maximum demand of sacred thread.
The sacred thread prepared here is supplied to adjoining Munger and Banka districts apart from local market. The raw material required for preparing sacred thread is procured from Surat and Patna beside other places by Muslim families involved in the business.
Meanwhile as mark of brotherhood some members of Muslim community took to cleaning of local Mushari Ghat in Mayaganj locality today where large number of people will offer arghya during Chhath puja. Those involved in cleaning ghat said they have been doing this for years during Chhath Puja to ensure worshippers have no problem in performing puja at ghat.
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