Bhakti Chalak

Several seas and continents away from India, Radhika Yadav and Alfiya Shaikh, two young women from Maharashtra, have set an example of religious harmony that is not hard to see in India despite occasional tensions.

They celebrated Ganeshotsav -the 10-day festival of Lord Ganesha celebrated in a major way in their home state in India - in asdimple yet unique way.

Originally from Pune, a major cultural and educational hub in Maharashtra, Alfiya and Radhika graduated together in Food Technology. They decided to pursue further studies in Canada.

Alfiya Shaikh with Bappa

However, upon reaching there, they were separated. Alfiya got admission into the world-renowned McGill University in Montreal, while Radhika was admitted to the prestigious University of British Columbia, located a vast 4,500 kilometers away.

The two best friends were thus parted by distance. But after completing their master's degrees and gaining a year of work experience, they reunited and began living together. Both are currently working in Vancouver, BC.

Once they started living together, the dear friends decided to celebrate their respective festivals. Alfiya is Muslim, and Radhika a Hindu. Their festivals are different, but with great love and sensitivity, they celebrated all the festivals together.

This year, after coming together, they decided to celebrate Ganeshotsav.

Radhika Yadav with Bappa

Expressing their joy of celebrating the festival in their small home, Alfiya and Radhika told 'Awaz-The Voice', "We have been living in Canada for the last 3 years. But being originally from Pune, Ganeshotsav is very close to our hearts. Previously, we lived in different cities, but since we started living together this year, we decided to bring Bappa to our home."

Instead of buying a ready-made idol, they decided to craft one by hand. In their small Canadian home, the two friends sat together, kneaded the clay, shaped the idol, painted it, and brought their Bappa to life. From the decorations to preparing the pooja thali (worship plate) and the naivedya (food offering), the two did everything meticulously.

Speaking about the preparations, Alfiya says, "It was difficult to get all the decorative items here in Canada. So, we used the dupattas and tiklis (bindis) we had to create the decorations. We decided to make the Bappa idol at home to give it a more emotional and personal touch."

Bappa's idol handcrafted by Radhika and Alfiya

Radhika shares, "Alfiya helped me a lot while preparing the naivedya. We made all the dishes together. If one made modaks, the other prepared the meal. We also performed the aarti (a ritual of worship with lamps and devotional songs) together twice a day. This whole atmosphere made it feel just like we were celebrating Ganeshotsav in Pune."

Alfiya didn't have in-depth knowledge about the rituals of aarti and naivedya. This year, celebrating at home with Radhika, she learned many new things. She says, "Back in Pune, I used to visit Radhika's house every year during Ganeshotsav for darshan. But I never got to experience the entire preparation behind it. This year, however, I was involved in every small and big detail, and I got to experience everything. That's why this year's Ganeshotsav was very special for me."

Far from their families, the women have become each other's support system. Radhika was emotional with the arrival of Ganesha in their home this year. She says, "In Pune, Alfiya and I used to celebrate our festivals together every year. She would come to my house for Diwali and Ganeshotsav, and I would go to hers for Eid. This year, bringing Bappa home made me feel like I was back home. Alfiya has played a huge part in this."

Radhika and Alfiya showing off their mehndi designs on Eid

She adds, "While living together, we never even felt that she was a Muslim and I am a Hindu. That's because we celebrate all of each other's festivals and are very excited for both. It gives us a chance to experience each other's culture. Far from home, we are each other's only support. There is only one relationship between us, and that is one of friendship. This year, we also celebrated Eid together here. We applied mehndi, cooked Biryani and Sheer Korma, and invited our friends over."

Praising her deep friendship with Alfiya, Radhika says, "Our friendship is very special. Friendships are not made by looking at caste or religion. Our relationship is based solely on love and respect."

Agreeing with Radhika, Alfiya adds, "From the very beginning, we have only seen a human being in each other. Discrimination never came between us. Religion and culture never stood in the way of our friendship. We respect each other's festivals, learn about the traditions, and create beautiful memories from them. So, we haven't just accepted our cultural diversity; we are celebrating it."

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This small act by Alfiya and Radhika, though living far from home, gives a new identity to cultural unity and friendship. These two young women, living in a distant land, have sent a message to all Indians, especially the people of Maharashtra, that the true spirit of India lies in forgetting divisions of religion and caste, and respecting and embracing each other's festivals.