Insta
Congress MP Rasheed Masood (Twitter)
The "Rasam Pagdi" ceremony organised by the family of former MP Rasheed Masood, who passed away in Roorkee on 5 October due to Covid-19, has irked the Muslim hardliners.
The ceremony was held in the Bilaspur village of Saharanpur amid chanting of Vedic mantras on Sunday.
According to source, a number of clerics not only left the venue when the rituals began but even expressed their displeasure over the issue.
"The 'Pagdi' ceremony was done according to the Hindu rituals. Some sadhus were also seen sitting there chanting Vedic mantras. Tying Pagri and choosing an elder in the family is a good tradition but it should have been done according to the Islamic tradition," Maulana Asad Qasmi said on Tuesday.
The video of the event, which was posted on social media platforms, also invited sharp reactions.
The "Rasam Pagdi" ceremony is held days after the death of the eldest member of the family to fill the void left by him. The next surviving elder in the line wears the 'Pagdi' -- a symbol of honour in the region.
A ceremony, held amid the chants of Vedic mantras and Hindu rituals, marked the anointment of former Union Minister Rasheed Masood's son, Shazan Masood, as head of the family.
Shazan Masood was tied 'Pagdi' by the elders at the gathering of relatives and supporters. Several Hindu rituals were also performed.
The family is not affected by the reaction of the clerics.
"It has been like that for ages. Similar ceremonies were organised for my grandfather and uncle by their Hindu friends. And now it was held for my father. His entire life was devoted to the Hindu-Muslim unity and we respect the sentiments of the people who wanted to pay tribute to him through the ceremony. Nobody should have an objection to it because Islam respects all faiths," said Shazan, who was tied the 'Pagdi'.
Imran Masood, the nephew of the deceased leader, also trashed the objection. "This is not a new thing. This is their way of paying respect to the departed soul. What is wrong in this? Who are they to come between me and God?" he asked.
The story has been published via a syndicated feed, only the headline has been changed
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest