Ram Mandir celebration unites Dangar Khera in communal feast and harmony

In a heart warming display of unity, the residents of Dangar Khera, situated approximately 15 km from the Pakistan border in Punjab’s Fazilka district, came together to prepare a langar as they marked the pran pratishtha at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The village, with a population of 10,000, witnessed 70% of its residents, predominantly Hindus, joining in the festivities on Monday.

The committees of five temples and a gurdwara collaborated to organize the langar, featuring dishes such as kheer, dal, and roti, reminiscent of the community spirit observed during gurpurab celebrations.

Harphool Singh Mann generously offered his home as the cooking space for the langar, emphasizing the spirit of communal cooperation.

Balraj Singh, president of the gurdwara’s management committee, exemplified this unity by personally serving langar to residents gathered in pangat in the village’s common area, known as sathh. Despite having five temples in the village, the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir hosted a common program where the entire village congregated.

Satsang took place in the open area of sathh, followed by the commencement of the langar at noon. Rajinder Kumar, actively involved in serving the langar, mentioned that the menu was collectively decided by the gurdwara and temple committees.

Gurnam Singh, secretary of the gurdwara management committee, emphasized the universality of service, stating, “God is one. So our purpose is to do sewa in any form. We live in the village in complete harmony.” The celebration extended to neighboring Kallar Khera village, where, despite being Hindu-majority, a yagya and kirtan were organized in a shared space. Mahinder Kumar Kulchania, block president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Rajewal, emphasized the village’s inclusive spirit, with farmers from 30 villages participating regardless of religious beliefs.

Joginder Singh, sarpanch of Kaller Khera, highlighted the village’s unity, where residents of Sikh and Bagri communities collaborated in langar sewa and enjoyed the feast together. The unveiling of a Ram Darbar at the Baba Ramdev temple added a special touch to the celebration. Even in Giddranwali village, with a population of about 6,000, residents, both Hindus and Sikhs, joined hands in organizing a common program at the Hanuman Mandir. Darshan Singh stressed the importance of respecting each other’s faith, emphasizing that political ideologies and religious beliefs should remain separate.