The spirit of giving and communal amity marked Id celebrations across the city on Saturday.
More than 100 children in two shelter homes were treated to biryani and mango juice on Saturday afternoon by the Anti-Hunger Squad Foundation.
The Anti-Hunger Squad Foundation distributes biryani and mango juice to children at a shelter home on Saturday
The Divine Fellowship Blind School in Thakurpukur was one of the stops for the social workers. The school has around 80 children, all of them with varying degrees of visual impairment.
"Most of them are from marginalised families. Some of the children are orphans," said Namita Bhattacharya, in charge of the school.
The other destination was Shuktara, a home for children with cognitive challenges, off Diamond Harbour Road in Behala’s Silpara.
"We have over 20 children. They suffer from cerebral palsy, autism and other cognitive impairment," said Nagendra Mishra, the founder.
The members of the Anti-Hunger Squad Foundation have been providing hot meals to marginalised people for over three years now. During Covid, the squad fed hundreds of people every day. The drive has not stopped and volunteers can be frequently seen outside government hospitals and railway stations, distributing hot meals.
"The spirit of giving is inseparable from Id. We spent a lovely time with the children. Id celebrations could not have been better," said Zeeshan Majid, a social worker and founder of the squad.
The United Interfaith Foundation, a forum of community leaders that works for social harmony, extended Id greetings.
“Today, people from different thoughts, beliefs and religions are celebrating Id here. This is the strength of our country. We are known all over the world for this uniqueness of diversity and this is our core strength. Id celebrates God, human equality and the welfare of the poor and the deprived. We wish all our Muslim brothers and sisters a joyful and peaceful Id celebrations," said Reverend Thomas D'Souza, archbishop of Kolkata and president of the forum.
“The aim and purpose of this exchange of greetings is to reinforce trust between diverse groups and to strengthen the unity and understanding between all religions and faith, which is relevant and necessary," said Moulana Syed Zaki Hasan Rizvi, of Imam e Jumma.
“Community gathering as part of cementing social relations is the purpose of our festival and their celebrations. Id has also become a symbol of communal concord as people from all walks of life come together to celebrate this occasion,” said Divakar Chaitanya, of Chinmaya Mission.
The forum of religious leaders promotes communal amity and encourages people to take part in each other's festivals.
“We can create bonds of sincere and lasting friendship by taking part in all festivals. We must also make the marginalised people a part of the celebrations," said Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, general secretary of the forum.
Ahluwalia is also chairman of the IHA Foundation, which had provided hot meals to tens of thousands of underprivileged people daily during the pandemic.
On Saturday, the foundation celebrated Id with slum children in Topsia, Kidderpore and Bowbazar.
Around 100 children got a gift hamper each. Every hamper had a sipper, lunch-box, pencil-box and clipboard among other things. A box of chocolates was also given to every child.
"We wanted to give something utilitarian. All these children are students and the hamper will come in very handy," said Ahluwalia.
