KOLKATA: A group of Hindu men and women, mostly middle-aged professionals from central Kolkata, observed Muharram by offering water and sherbat to those took part in the procession. They offered glasses of sherbat to the mourners as they walked through the city roads in the hot and humid weather.
On Tuesday, residents of areas in and around BB Ganguly Street-Bowbazar, Brajalal Dutta Lane, Chuna Pukur Lane, Ramkanai Adhikari Lane, gathered at a decorated stall by the roadside waiting for the mourners. For the past three days they had been pooling money and planning how to cater to the procession attendees. "The biggest challenge was to provide sherbat and water to so many attendees in a very short time. When the procession passed through the area, many of them would want to quench their thirst. We needed a big team of volunteers," said Sharmistha Ghosh, a homemaker.
In the past few days they spoke to many people in the locality who could volunteer on the day of Muharram to provide some refreshments to the procession attendees. Around 35 of them decided to volunteer. "This mourning observes the anniversary of the battle of Karbala. Imam Hussain suffered death as he was denied water in the battle. We thought there can't be a better way to show respect to his martyrdom by offering water to the rally attendees," said Gobinda Chaki, a lawyer and a local resident.
Since Tuesday morning, a group of volunteers stood at the stall handing over glasses of water to mourners, while another group tirelessly prepared more than a thousand glasses of sherbat for them.
"It felt like we are being a part of any other ritual of our community. There can't be a better service than serving mankind and be part of their rituals," said Sanjit Sahu, a stock broker who stays at Bowbazar.
Biswarup Dey, councillor of Ward 48, who managed the necessary permissions for the locals to put up the stall, had even decided to arrange for water tankers to wash the roads in case it was hot. "I was moved when they approached me with the decision. I can't think of a better way to bring the communities together. These are trying times when lines are being drawn among communities. This was an excellent way to reinforce the bond," he said.
"This year we have seen people participating from other communities in several parts of the city. There was a similar stall in Tollygunge," said Humayun Mirza. A descendant of Tipu Sultan and Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, Mirza felt such efforts bring the communities together.
