Rakesh Chaurasia/New Delhi.

The Hindu-Muslim siblings born of a Muslim mother who died in the Chanan town of Lakhisarai district of Bihar have decided to observe her post-death rituals as per both religions. Her Hindu children – a son and a daughter - would observe the ritual on the 13th day while her Muslim sons would hold Chehlum –  on the 40th day of her death – as the final ritual in Islam.

The 45-year-old Raika alias Raika Khatoon died on Monday leaving behind her two sets of children – Mohd. Mofil and Mohd. Sonelal - from an earlier marriage and son Bablu, and daughter Tetri, from her marriage to a Hindu Brahmin.

While all four children lived with their mother and her second husband Rajendra Jha till the later also died sometime back, there was no dispute on religion.

Mohd. Mofil and Mohd. Sonelal and their mother followed Islam and read Namaz and observed Ramazan fasting under the same roof where Rajendra Jha, Bablu and daughter Tetri recited Hindu Mantras and prayed as per the Hindu way.

Rajendra Jha and married Raika when she was living alone with her two sons after her husband had divorced her.

In fact, Rajendra Jha, worked as a Jajmaan – a ritual conducting Hindu priest – and his marriage to a Muslim was resented by the community. He moved from his place to Jankidi where he lived with Raika and her two Muslim children.

The couple had two children Bablu and Tetri and all the six lived happily as a family.

Sometime ago Rajendra Jha died. Raika’s eldest son got married and he shifted out of the family. His brother also moved with him.

However, when Raika Khatoon died the siblings started fighting on how they should conduct her post burial rights.

As soon as the news was received, the station in-charge present on the spot explained a lot to both the parties but no solution was found.

At last ASP Syed Imran Masood came in and he explaining to her children that that their mother had married a Hindu, so the last rites will be performed as per the Hindu traditions and yet her Muslim children are free to perform further rituals according to their custom.

It was only after the police intervened that the siblings reached an agreement. The Hindu children agreed that they will observe her tehraveen (13th day) to close the mourning period while her Muslim children will hold Chelum (the 40th day of death), the last formal prayer for the departed.

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Locals said everyone in the family had freedom to practice their religion and that is why this squabbling surprised them.