– Kashiram Sharma
Musbetawa Baba Temple located at Khajura Rural Municipality in Banke district carries a common religious ambiance for both Hindu and Muslim communities, as the people from these communities throng the site to pay homage.
The followers of both Hindu and Muslim religious communities believe that their blessings get fulfilled from the Musbetawa Baba.
On the occasion of Saraswoti Puja, people of these communities visit the temple irrespective of their religious belongingness.
A social worker of Khajura, Satish Niraula said that people from Hindu and Muslim communities have high regard as a common religious site, which depicts the religious harmony in the society.
Niraula said that the folks from Muslim and Hindu backgrounds are praying in the temple for the past 55 years.
He shared that protection of the religious site is urgent to glorify its historical importance.
However, the land plot in the name of the Temple, which is being used for organizing a fair has been encroached upon, thus needing prompt actions for its protection.
There is also the possibility of promotion of religious tourism if the religious and histortical importance of this shrine could be publicized. "There are very few places having such historical value in the world, where the two religious communities revere the same shrine," local Ram Sonkar said. He drew the attention of the local levels to take steps for publicizing the Musbetawa Baba temple.
Both Hindus and Muslims revere the Musbetawa Baba and pray and make offerings together. This has helped cement inter-communal harmony and respect.
Patron of the temple, Md Kalim Shah said people of both Muslim and Hindu communities prayed at the temple. "I am living here since the last 25 years. Mostly, Hindus come here and offer chyadar (sheet of cloth)," he said. Village elders say a religious fair used to take place here when this place used to be a forest before.
Hyat Ali Bathuwa, a local who sells chyadar here to the devotees for them to offer at the temple, said it is not known how old the temple is. "It is said there was thick forest at this place before and this shrine was located in the middle of this forest. My grandparents and great grandparents said people from far and wide used to visit the shrine during the annual religious fair," Bathuwa said.
According to him, this temple is an epitome of religious harmony and that the god is common. Moreover, it also strengthened communal relations and therefore this heritage site should be protected and promoted.