NEW DELHI: In a country where one often gets news of religious intolerance and hate, here is a piece of news that touchingly shows the mutual love and friendship between different communities.

Muslim residents of Joshimath in Uttarakhand offered Eid namaaz on Monday in a gurdwara, after being invited in by its head priest, according to local media. There is no mosque or idgah in Joshimath, a town perched above the Alakhnanda deep in the Garhwal Himalayas. Usually its 800-odd Muslim residents offer namaaz at the town’s Gandhi Maidan, a public ground.

It had been raining heavily for several days and the festival day too dawned in pouring rain. Gandhi maidan had turned into slush. The Muslim community was groping for a solution when the head of the local gurdwara, the Sikh’s place of worship, sent a heart warming message – the Muslims could use the main hall of the gurdwara for offering namaz.

So, at 9:30am, the congregation of Muslims in bright new clothes trooped down to the gurudwara and offered the ritual prayers in the big hall. After the ceremony, they embraced the waiting members of Sikh community. Some Hindus from the town too were present and offered greetings to the other two communities.

Sardar Buta Singh, Prabandhak of the gurdwara, later told media persons that the Muslims were facing trouble due to bad weather, so he asked them in.

Maulvi Asif was quoted by media as saying that by solving their problem, the gurdwara committee had presented an example of humanity and respect towards all religions. He said that the Muslim community was thankful of the committee.

Joshimath is located about 250 kilometers from Rishikesh on National Highway 58. It is close to two important pilgrimage centers – Badrinath of the Hindus and Hemkunt Sahib of the Sikhs.