It would not be an exaggeration to say that Haridwar is living the ‘Ganga Jamuni tehzeeb’. The Hindu festival Kanwar is at its peak these days but behind these multi- hued decorative kanwars for holding cans for Ganga jal are the skilled Muslim hands.
Many of the Kanwars used by the pilgrims are made and decorated by the Muslim artisans and craftsmen in Jwalapur. To meet the demand of Kanwars, Muslim artisans, even from the neighbouring districts of UP, like Saharanpur, Bijnor and Muzaffarnagar, reach Haridwar city.
It is a means of livelihood for many. Rehman Miyan from Saharanpur who has been coming here for the past five years, says, “My family comes to Haridwar about a month before the commencement of the Kanwar Mela. We earn about Rs 5 lakhs every year by making Kanwars, including costly and decorated ones”, says Rehman Miyan.
For many years a Muslim girl Babli living in slum colony Indira nagar of Jwalapur was making Kanwars with her parents. She was awarded by the President for saving two children who were drowning.
“One has to work hard to earn two square meals a day. Kanwar mela is the time when many like me from the Muslim community crafts beautiful Kanwars for our brethren-the Hindus who undertake pilgrimage. It gives me pleasure to work on these Kanwars,” says Abdul Mallik of Mohalla Kassaban of Jwalapur.