Celebrating Diwali in Delhi's Muslim ghetto

By Neyaz Farooquee

One of the most visible festivals in India, Diwali, is packed with food, Diyas, prayer, and above all, happiness and intimacy. There is one locality in Delhi, Jamia Nagar, where Muslims abound, and the people there celebrate Diwali in their own unique way.

Gaurav Yadav, an undergraduate student of Law and a resident of Joga Bai in Jamia Nagar, feels no difference in celebrating the Hindu festival of Diwali, or Holi or Dussehra, in the largely Muslim area. In his words, “There is a huge difference between two persons clapping for you or 100, but still there is no such feeling of ‘others’ here.” He adds, “I was born here and most of my friends are Muslims, we all celebrate Eid, Diwali or Holi ‘together.’ And this is the difference”.

“On Diwali or Holi, guests outnumber hosts; on Eid hosts outnumber guests, and it’s quite unique in its way that in all our festivities most of our guests are Muslims,” he adds. Yadav claims the colony Joga Bai is named after his foremother, Joga Bai, who was one of the courtiers of the Mughals.

The neighbourhood of Jamia Nagar has a central University, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), which was a result of a nationalist movement started by Muslims before India’s independence. JMI has attracted a large number of Muslims in this area from the whole country. Recently it was in the news due to two allegations of terrorists.

Rahul Raja, 21, a graduate of Social Works study and a resident of Okhla village doesn’t find any difference in Diwali celebrations except in the number of Hindus. “Decorations and rush of Diwali is missing here but not the fervor." He adds, "With the influx of Muslims, most of the Hindus have migrated to other colonies. But I was born and brought up here only and I love this place. Simply, I can’t think of going anywhere else.”

But the increasing polarization, he feels, has taken its toll on the psyche of the country. “Last night, wearing Kurta, I was bursting cracker in the middle of the night along with many Kids. One kid came to me and asked, are you a Hindu?” I replied, “Yes.” Kid said, “You don’t look like a Hindu in Kurta.”

Mohan Lal, the priest for the last 11 years at the Okhla village temple in Jamia Nagar, says, “We celebrate Diwali here as we might have in any other place.” Differences apart, says 75 year old resident of Okhla Village, Brijkishore Seth, we live together, we eat together and we celebrate together.