Last Updated: March 21, 2024, 13:26 IST
The mosque is located in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu.
At the mosque, Muslims distribute Kanji to people of other faiths as well. People bring vessels to the mosque and collect sweet porridge (Kanji) to consume.
The holy month of Ramadan is underway and Muslims all over the country are maintaining devotion throughout the pious month offering namaz at mosques and breaking their day-long fast with iftar. The Hamsa Mukha Deen Jumma Mosque in the city of Manakavalam Pillai Nagar in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu also offers namaz during Ramadan but with a pleasant twist. The iftar after the evening prayers is shared between Hindus and Christians in the locality as well, serving as an exemplary instance of communal harmony.
The Hamsa Mukha Deen Jumma Mosque is located on the outskirts of the city and also houses temples and churches. Several families belonging to various religions reside in this area. At the mosque’s entrance, Islamic devotees perform special services daily during the Ramadan festival. As a daily custom, Muslims break their fast in the form of iftar with Kanji, a traditional Indian drink, with its roots in Punjab and other parts of Northern India.
Muslims distribute Kanji to people of other faiths as well. People bring vessels to the mosque and collect sweet porridge (Kanji) to consume. It is a common sight outside the mosque to see people from other faiths queuing up to collect their Kanji at the end of the evening Namaz.
The mosque authorities say that the significance of Kanji after fasting is that it cools the body and provides relief from heat. “We are delighted to offer Kanji Porridge to those from different religions. They also come eagerly to take it. When this mosque was renovated in our area, Hindus helped us and supported us. Christians also showed appreciation for the religious harmony in our area. We are living peacefully with religious tolerance in our area,” the authorities said.
They also divulged the recipe for the Kanji porridge. Start by washing and soaking the cardamom and dal in water. Next, place a cooker on the stove and heat it. Once the cooker is hot, add oil and ghee into it. Once both are heated well, add cinnamon bark, cardamom, cloves, and bay leaves. Then, add fenugreek seeds. After the fenugreek seeds turn red, crush garlic and spring onions and add them. Also, add sliced onions and finely chopped tomatoes along with three green chillies sliced lengthwise.
The authorities shared the next steps. Add coriander, mint, ginger garlic paste, finely chopped carrot and add the required amount of salt and saute well. After this, these are sauteed well, add soaked tamarind and dal without water and mix well. Leave it for a minute and then pour water in it. Then turn it off, the authorities added.
