Salaam Alekum, Syed!

Hey Ram, Say it with Syed. A lot of people did so, at his residence on Ramanavami in Basavanagudi, sipping a glass of panaka and a small bowl of kosumbari - a Ramanavami special. A Muslim celebrating a Hindu festival with a fervour and devotion that would do a devout Hindu proud! Syed and his family including his wife, four daughters and a son, have been doing so for the past 15 years. His philosophy is simple: Sabka Malik Ek. God is one, but the paths to reach him are different. Inspiring stuff, coming from an ordinary mechanic who runs an automobile workshop. An intensely religious person, Syed does his namaz daily and follows the principles of Islam, but that has not deterred him from celebrating Hindu festivals. He also takes an avid interest in practicing the rituals associated with the festival. For instance, on Ramanavami, he performed a pooja before a portrait of Sree Rama and only after that, distributed the 'prasad' i.e. panaka and kosumbari.

What can we say, except, Salaam Alekum, Syed…