No space, no issue: Mumbai temple allows Muslims to offer Eid prayers

Reports suggest local mosque was crowded and people had to offer prayers outside prompting Ganpati to give space

A Ganpati pandal in Mumbai's Colaba set a novel example two days ago by allowing Muslims to perform Eid prayers.

An image which has gone viral on social media shows a group of Muslims offering prayers inside a Ganpati Pandal on Friday, the day of Eidul Azha, boasting the peaceful coexistence of Hindus and Muslims in India.

Reports suggest the local mosque, Madrassa Rahamatiya Talimul Quran, was crowded on the occasion and people had to pray outside. This prompted the neighbourhood Ganapati to give them space to offer prayers.

Nearly 13,000 Muslims offered prayers inside the Ganpati pandal, according to Seva Sangh Ganeshotsav Mandal in Colaba.

Read:Being Muslim in India

A member of Seva Sangh said this is not the first time Muslims have been given space to pray inside the Ganpati pandal. "During Ramzan four years ago which coincided with the Ganesh festival, we had allowed Eid prayers inside the pandal. It may be that some people find this surprising, but it is entirely normal for us", he said.

Read: India home to 180 million Muslims: Indian official

Recently, another such image also went viral on social media. The image showed a group of people offering prayers on a Mumbai road and assembling on one side to ensure there was enough space for a procession carrying Ganesh idols to pass by. The photos prompted positive comments from social media users.

1.Ganesh pandal allows Eid prayers. 2.Muslim family respects tradition of keeping Ganesh at home.

THIS is MY INDIA! pic.twitter.com/r2wLfF9ex9

— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) September 26, 2015

https://twitter.com/iabhilashj/status/647775218908327936

https://twitter.com/Sreelakshmi215/status/648001441060155392

This article originally appeared on Huffington Post India.