Bhakti Chalak

Torrential rains wreaked havoc in Karad, a town in the Satara district of Maharashtra.  It led to a flood-like situation along the banks of the Koyna River, creating panic among the artisans who had been making statues of Lord ganesha for sales for the upcoming Ganeshotsav festival.

They feared that hundreds of Ganesh idols and months of their hard work, would be washed away by the rising waters.

Just then, the news of their plight spread through the town's WhatsApp groups. In a heartening display of unity, dozens of Hindu and Muslim youths rushed to the site to save the idols of Lord Ganesha, affectionately known as 'Bappa'.

Local activists from different communities banded together to ensure that the idols made by the artisans for months were not lost to the flood.

Working closely, these young men began a rescue operation and moved each idol to a safe location. Mohsin Kagdi, the leader of the rescue group, opened up his warehouse for the idols to be stored.

This selfless act by the multi-faith members of the 'Brothers Foundation' is now being praised everywhere.

Recalling the events of that day, Jay Suryavanshi, a member of the foundation, said, “Back in 2019, Karad witnessed a severe flood that caused immense hardship for villages along the river. This area is home to a large number of people from the Kumbar (potter) community, the traditional idol makers.

During that flood, many of their Ganesh idols were washed away, inflicting a huge losses on them.They failed to deliver their orders of statues that wholesalers had booked.”

“This time, a similar situation seemed to be developing,” Jay said. “The water level was rising fast due to the incessant rain. Realizing that history could repeat itself, all of us activists rushed to the spot and moved the idols to safety. We were all working together—Hindus and Muslims. That is the specialty of our group.”

Jay proudly adds, “Our town of Karad never falls prey to the politics of religion or caste. We all walk the path of harmony, and there is no room for discrimination here.That's why our foundation has no president; every member, from every faith, is a leader.”

Mohsin Kagdi, the man who emptied his warehouse for the Ganesh idols, shared, “That day, I received calls for help from our friends in the Kumbar community. There were nearly 300 idols there. The big question was where to move them for safety. My shop was nearby, so without wasting a moment, I cleared it and we could store hundreds of idols there.”

He added, “Our Brothers Foundation has always stood for religious harmony and community service. We don't think about caste or religion; we work together. So, I don't feel like we did anything extraordinary. If we get a chance to do such work again, we will do it with honor.”

Expressing his concern, Mohsin said, “I just hope such a situation never arises again. I also appeal to the government to provide adequate financial aid to the Kumbar community for the losses they have suffered. They faced a lot of trouble that day, having to hire tractors and cranes in the pouring rain, which cost them a lot of money. Our group of friends also helped arrange some vehicles, which gave them some relief.”

Sameer Patwekar, a Muslim activist from the Brothers Foundation, said, “The Kumbar community has been making Ganesh idols on the banks of the Koyna for many years. Their work begins five to six months before Ganeshotsav.

This year, too, the idols were painted and ready for sale. But the sudden rain put them at risk. This has happened before, causing huge losses for the artisans. We all just wanted to prevent that from happening again so that everyone could celebrate the festival with joy.”

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The original idea behind festivals was to bring society together, a purpose that often seems lost today. However, this incident in Karad has once again brought that true spirit to the forefront. This was about more than just saving idols; it was an event that strengthened the social fabric of Satara, proving that humanity and brotherhood can triumph over any division.