Alwar's integrated shrine: Where Hindus, Muslims pray under same roof

ALWAR: If you hadn't heard of Alwar, the historically significant Rajasthan district, before the recent lynching of dairy farmer Pehlu Khan, it probably evokes a picture of communal frenzy in your mind.

But people familiar with the place will tell you that is not the story of Alwar -that you should rather visit a popular shrine atop the Moti Doongri hill to better understand its fabric.

The shrine stands tall as an epitome of communal harmony , boast as it does of hosting devotees of two faiths in one compound as they practise their individual forms of worship.

The integrated shrine of Sayyed Darbar and Sankat Mochan Vir Hanuman Mandir is a unique example of the centuries-old peaceful coexistence of Hinduism and Islam, with not even a wall separating the two structures.

And on Thursdays, the microphone and loudspeaker as well as the dholak and harmonium used for the bhajan is handed over for qawal lis praising Allah. The compound has flags in saffron and green furling together, with a 30-metre Tricolour installed in front of the hill on which it stands.

Devotees say that the scent of camphor and wicks soaked in ghee from the maha aarti combine with that of the `roshni-ki-rasm', burning of loban at the dargah, to create a fragrance without parallel.

The entry to the compound is primarily from the temple's gate. Here, devotees pray with folded hands and offer their forehead for tika. As they proceed towards the dargah, they cover their heads and bend to kiss the grave. Offerings at both places come from a common thali. Mahant Nawal Baba, 51, the chief caretaker of both the places, has serious objections to those who express surprise at the peaceful coexistence. “Both the places show the same path and are equally revered. What's the problem?“ he asked.