Noorul Haq/Agartala

Hectic preparations were going on in Qasim Mian's house in the Western Colony area near Agartala, capital of Tripura, for Kali Puja celebrations. Kali Puja is a Hindu festival celebrated in West Bengal and many parts of Eastern India to honour the goddess associated with time, destruction, and death, but also seen as a form of the divine mother who protects the innocent. 

A statue of Tripurishwari Mai, a form of Shakti, is about to be installed in the mandap and friends and family have come together for the occasion.

Qasim Mian,34, a Muslim, has been worshipping Tripurishwari Mai regularly in his home for the past 15 years. He started this tradition in 2010, following a dream in which he envisioned the Goddess asking him to worship her.

Each year on the Kartik Amavasya (new moon night) of Diwali, he and his family worship the Goddess. Qasim Mian leads the prayers and rituals of worship and follows these strictly.

He wears the traditional red attire used by Hindus for the puja. Initially, Qasim Mian was alone, but as the word about this unique celebration spread, neighbours and friends started joining him.

Qasim Mian’s family and people from both the Hindu and Muslim communities participate in the preparations for the puja. This year is no exception.

On Friday evening, when I went to Qasim Mian’s house, I saw a rush of people in the small house. On one side, the puja pandal was being raised, while on the other side, on the balcony of the four-roofed tin house, the neighbouring Hindu women were busy doing alupana (painting) in front of the idol. The lighting of the temple and other preparations were also underway.

Although Qasim Mian refused to give an interview on camera, he spoke in detail about his unusual activity off camera.

Qasim Mian said that in 2010, he received guidance in a dream and started worshipping the goddess. A different kind of feelings and respect for Tripureshwari Goddess arose in him. With the help of his friend Shovan Pal, he made a clay idol and installed it in his house, and the worship began.

Qasim Mian says that he is unable to explain his devotion towards Maiw as he is a Muslim. He considers Mai to be everything in his life and is ready to sacrifice everything for her worship.

Qasim Mian says that it was not an easy task to be born into a particular religion and worship the deity of another religion above the traditions of that religion.

Initially, he and his family faced social pressure and criticism. Many people looked down on the family and raised questions about his devotion, but he did not give up worshipping Mai. Gradually, things changed, and people from both communities in the area started to look at his devotion with respect and to support him.

Qasim Mian says that he wishes to establish a temple for Mai. Right now, he says, he doesn't have the resources. He is, however, determined to achieve this goal one day with the blessings of Mai.

Qasim Mian further says that for the past several years, a large number of people, including leaders from different parties and ministers, have been participating in the puja at his house.

This year too, he has invited Chief Minister Manik Saha and several MLAs to his house for Kali Puja.

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Qasim Mian says that religion can never be an obstacle in the face of respect and devotion. He says he didn't want to change his religion, while would not give up his devotion towards Kali Mai.