Kerala Imam's Attukal Pongala Hospitality Plea Wins Widespread Praise

(MENAFN- AsiaNet News)

A Friday sermon at the Palayam Juma Masjid has received widespread praise after Imam V P Suhaib Maulavi urged the Muslim community to warmly welcome Hindu devotees arriving in the state capital for the Attukal Pongala on March 3. “As the Attukal Pongala approaches, we must ensure better facilities for Hindu devotees during Juma prayers. Every year, we remind ourselves that when our sisters come here in the city for Pongala, they arrive as guests, and as hosts, it is our duty to provide them with every comfort,” said Maulavi.

Calling Attukal Pongala, often referred to as the “women’s Sabarimala,” a moment of collective cultural expression, the Imam said that Muslims during Ramadan should welcome Hindu devotees coming to the city. “Like last year, Pongala coincides with Ramadan. We must share the joy, fraternity, and love of Ramadan with our sisters and their children,” he said in his sermon, which has since gone viral. The Imam urged the faithful to arrange drinking water, Ramadan delicacies, and resting facilities for women devotees. “Our mosques and homes should be open before them. This is an occasion to demonstrate our love and brotherhood,” he added, emphasizing that only compassion and fraternity can counter rising Islamophobia and hatred.

Imam Counters ‘The Kerala Story’ With ‘Real’ Story

This appeal has received widespread praise online, especially amid the controversy surrounding the film The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, which has sparked debate over alleged misrepresentation of Kerala.

Commenting on the film’s theme, Suhaib Maulavi emphasized that Malayalis do not agree with the ideas the movie attempts to promote. He stated that the film depicts Kerala as a divided, broken, and demonized state, and characterized the narrative about Kerala as false. “When no one wants to watch that film (Kerala Story 2), the truth is this: Malayalis do not agree with the ideas the movie tries to push. It portrays Kerala as divided, broken, and demonized—a completely false narrative. If you want to see the real ‘Kerala story,’ look here: a mosque standing beside a temple, facing a church, and behind it another church, all shoulder to shoulder. During festivals, these places of worship help and support each other. This is the love, harmony, and brotherhood Kerala stands for. Any attempt to portray Kerala otherwise is simply unacceptable,” Maulavi told ANI.

A Tradition of Harmony Praised by the Public

For years, the historic Valiyapalli Muslim Jamaath Mosque in Manacaud has been known for opening its doors to Pongala devotees, providing water, toilets, resting areas, and space for emergency responders during the festival.

On Saturday, several people met the Palayam Imam in person to congratulate him for his message of communal harmony that has resonated across social media platforms. (ANI)

(This story, except for the headline, has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)