Agra, Oct 9 (IANS) Breaking from tradition, Muslim “chandaals” of Taj ganj crematorium Wednesday joined Brahmins at a “havan” to mark the beginning of a five-day “pravachan” by Anandmoorti Guru Ma, at the Kothi Meena Bazar ground.
The programme starts Oct 16.
Sabir Bhai, a “chandaal” said “people should not fight in the name of religion. We are Muslims but all the time we are used to saying ‘Ram Ram’.”
The “chandaals” offered “puja samagri” and flowers to the deities.
Ashok Goyal of Chaitanya Samiti said, “The barriers have to be broken and society integrated.”
The institution of “chandaals” dates back to Raja Harishchandra, the ultimate icon of truth and honesty, thousands of years ago.
Ostracised from the Hindu community, the “chandaals” live at the cremation ground to conduct the last rites in return for a token payment and “kafan”.