These Muslim Potters In Bihar Make Earthen Chulhas For Hindu Devotees During Chhath Puja

These stoves are used by the devotees observing fast to prepare prasad during Chhath puja

By: Rakesh Jha |
October 25, 2018 7:11 pm

With Bihar’s most popular festival Chhath Puja round the corner, scores of women from Muslim community are preparing earthen stoves for devotees in Patna. These stoves are used by the devotees observing fast to prepare prasad during Chhath puja. Interestingly, the Muslim women are maintaining utmost piousness to prepare chulhas, Times of India reported. Some of them even claim to have given up non vegetarian-food, garlic and onion after the commencement of Navratri. For them, respecting the sentiments of their Hindu customers is very important

“People not only appreciate my work, but also pay me well. I appreciate that they still use earthen stoves during Chhath, said 71-year-old Maimoona Khatoon who has been preparing the stoves for last 50 years.

The four-day festival begins with ‘Nahay Khay’. It is followed by Kharna, Sandhya Arghya ( evening obeisance) and Usha Arghya (morning obeisance). Devotees offer sugarcane, milk, wheat, coconut and bananas among other food items. Costing between Rs 40 to 120, these earthen stoves are made by around 80 families, particularly the womenfolk, from Kamla Nehru Nagar locality.

Last year, Muslim women undertook drive to clean roads leading to ghats near Ganga river in the city. They also helped facilitate other items of worship for devotees during Chhath Puja.