This 200-year-old Madhya Pradesh temple brings Hindus and Muslims together on Muharrum for a sacred ritual

Time of India

10 hours ago

In a moving show of
communal harmony
,
Muharram processions
in the small town of Bhander continue to honour a nearly two-century-old tradition: paying respects to Lord Krishna at the Chaturbhuj temple before proceeding toward Karbala.
On Sunday, as 37 tazias (ceremonial Muharram tableaux) made their way through the streets of Bhander in Datia district, they paused outside the
Chaturbhuj Maharaj temple
— offering a 'salami' (salute) to the deity in a ritual that has long been part of the town's collective heritage.
Built by a Muslim family, guarded by a shared faith
What makes this tradition remarkable is that the temple itself was constructed nearly 200 years ago by a local Muslim family — the Hazaris — and even today, the site stands as a testament to the shared faith and culture known as
Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb
.
"This year we had 37 tazias, and on the last day, the route passes first through Chaturbhuj Maharaj temple and then to the Karbala," Abdul Jabbar, head of the
Bhander Karbala Committee
, told ToI. "The tazias first pay 'salami' before moving ahead. The priest of the temple comes out and blesses the tazias."
For 63-year-old Jabbar, the ritual is deeply personal. "I am 63 years old and I have seen it since my childhood. The idol at the temple was found centuries ago by a local Muslim family named the
Hazari family
in Sontalai, a pond situated in the town. The family then built the temple."
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He recounted a powerful tale passed down through generations — about the idol refusing to move unless a Hazari family member was present during the annual 'gyaras' holy bath.
"Later, close to the country's Independence, only one elderly female member of the Hazari family was alive. She too was bedridden, and on gyaras when people couldn't lift the idol, she was somehow brought to the temple. The folklore says, 'here she prayed and told the idol,
Ab uth jaana
, koi nahi aa payega humare parivar se (from now on get lifted, no one from our family will be able to come now).' It is said, people were able to move the idol since then."
From generation to generation, the legacy continues
Ramesh Panda, the current temple priest, says his family has served at the temple for generations — and always with the support of the Muslim community.
'The temple has around 5 bighas of land donated by the Muslim family that built it. It's a nearly 200-year-old temple. My maternal grandfather used to be the priest there. After his death, my father became the priest, and after his death, I am the priest,' he told TOI.
He also recalled times of communal tension, when the local Muslim community stepped forward to protect the temple.
'The temple was not only built by a Muslim family but guarded by Muslims. I remember decades ago there was communal tension. At that time, police arrived here but local Muslims came forward assuring the administration that they would guard the temple and no police or force was required,' Panda said.