Temple opening divides some Mumbai housing societies right down the middle

The upcoming Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir on January 22 has sparked varied reactions and debates within some housing colonies and societies across Mumbai The festivities have spread across communities sparking both enthusiasm and contention in equal measure In many housing societies managing and cultural committees are actively organising pujas and cultural programmes to mark the occasionCirculars have been distributed with some encouraging participation and others subtly questioning nonparticipation among tenants of all faiths midday spoke to various society representatives and residents to understand the debate Most individuals agreed to speak while requesting anonymityA resident from a society in Malad said ldquoThe Ayodhya issue is sensitive due to polarisation and its history Itrsquos crucial to approach such events with sensitivity ensuring minority communities arenrsquot marginalised The debate in our society arose from an unofficial WhatsApp group message that labelled nonparticipants in the puja as atheists This sparked discussions with participants highlighting the importance of respecting diverse religious beliefsrdquoThe festivities have crossed religious lines committee representatives say itrsquos a way to unite people File picThe managing committee of a society in Andheri said ldquoCelebrating the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony is culturally and religiously significant fostering unity and shared heritage transcending religious boundariesrdquo Other residents of the same society requesting anonymity said ldquoWe come from a Hindu family and are not at all against the celebrations but what if we do not want to participate in it Does our personal choice matter or the peer pressure that may coerce us into attendingrdquoA committee member from a society in Chembur said ldquoOur intention is not to impose any belief but to celebrate the diversity of our society Inclusivity is key and participating in such events helps bridge gaps among residentsrdquo The other members added ldquoThe concern lies not in the religious background but in politicians politicising the Ram Mandir issuerdquoResidents in a Dadar society expressed concerns with one resident saying ldquoWhile respecting those who want to celebrate itrsquos crucial to acknowledge the deeprooted historical implications of the Ayodhya issue I would rather light a diya in my home temple insteadrdquo A Borivli society with a mix of Catholics and Hindus also saw this debate unfold A resident said ldquoI am a Catholic not against the celebration but attendance should not be mandatoryrdquoNavigating the debateAs the debate intensifies a managing committee member in Powai said ldquoBalancing celebrating cultural heritage and respecting individual choices is crucial We must engage in open dialogue to understand diverse perspectives and find common ground that fosters harmony within our communitiesrdquoA Ghatkopar committee representative said ldquoOne thing we can be proud of is that our society makes sure that the sentiments of the residents are not hurt and hence while releasing our society circular for the Ram Mandir Pran Prathisthan celebration we made sure to mention that attending the celebration is onersquos own wish and no one should be forcedrdquoA resident from Vakola said ldquoOur society is celebrating but no one is forced to attend Participation details are collected for dinner arrangements and surprisingly people from other religions have willingly decided to join the celebrationsrdquoExpert commentAdvocate Jyotishwar Bhosale said ldquoIn line with legal principles and cooperative ethos participation in housing society events like Pran Pratishthan should be voluntary respecting individual rights especially in religious matters Mandatory involvement or financial contributions violate both the Indian Constitutionrsquos protections and the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Actrsquos principles of voluntary membership and democratic control Housing societies must honour these tenets balancing collective activities with individual freedomsrdquoJanuary 22Day the Pran Pratishtha ceremony will be held