Where Hindus offer namaz at dargah

At a time when Hindus and Muslims are baying for each other’s blood, this dargah in Amreli’s Venivadar village has a different sto...

At a time when Hindus and Muslims are baying for each other’s blood, this dargah in Amreli’s Venivadar village has a different story to tell. Every morning, a crowd gathers at the 500-year-old Ghebhan Shah Pir Dargah to offer namaz. But what is unusual about it is that it is an all-Hindu crowd that comes to offer prayers.

The village with a 5,000-strong population doesn’t have one Muslim resident and it is the Hindus who take care of the dargah. And they are least bothered about the fact that the dargah originally belonged to Muslims.

Nanjibhai Jhinabhai, a resident of the village, says: ‘‘We do not know the dargah’s history and we are not bothered about the Muslim saint’s background. Our elders said this was considered a sacred place by the Muslims of our village before they to migrated to other towns after independence. They used to offer prayers here every day and so we considered it our duty to continue the tradition after they left.’’

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The villagers even got together in 1983 and made a permanent structure for the dargah. They recently pooled in money and got the dargah repainted. Nanjibhai, who has named his house ‘‘Shree Ram Ghebhan Shah Krupa’’, says: ‘‘I am a follower of Lord Ram and this house was constructed with the blessings of Ghebhan Shah Pir.’’

Says another resident, Mansukh Haribhai: ‘‘I do not know whether the saint was a Muslim or a Hindu. All I know is that for me, my family and the villagers, he is sacred.’’ He goes on to add: ‘‘With no Muslim in the area, it is our responsibility to take care of this dargah.’’

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