🖋️Seraj Anwar

Gayaji, the land of Lord Vishnu, Gautam Buddha and Sufi Pirmansur of Bihar, is not called the city of Hindu-Muslim unity for nothing. Here both the communities make efforts together to maintain the glory of Vijayadashami. The walls of Jama Masjid and Dukh Harani Temple located on Sarai Road are adjacent to each other. Just like Kashi's Gyanvapi Mosque and Vishwanath Temple. The matter there is in the court. Here is an example of mutual love, social harmony and unity. This unmatched unity is seen on the day of Vijayadashami. When the priests of the Dukhharani temple and the members of the Jama Masjid committee sit on the steps of the mosque to pass the idols and remain present till the event is completed happily.

While there is some tension during festivals in Bihar, Gaya presents an example of communal harmony. In this area, people of both the communities live like good neighbours. A few years ago, when Jama Masjid Committee started free BPSC coaching, the priest of Dukh Harani temple was also invited to receive blessings.

Vijayadashami is celebrated with enthusiasm here. This time too, preparations are going on to celebrate Dussehra peacefully.

The famous 450 year old Dukhharani temple and the famous Jama Masjid established in 1890‑98 are equally ancient. It is said that the British played a trick to weaken the foundation of this friendship. Permission was given to carry the idol of Durga through the road, tearing apart the temple and mosque so that the unity of Hindus and Muslims would be broken. This incident is from 1936. There was a minor clash during the idol immersion procession but after that there was never any riot in Gaya. Old timers remember that even during the terrible Bihar riots of the forties and the communal frenzy after Ayodhya, Gaya virtually remained an island of communal peace and harmony.

Even today, the five big idols of the city pass through this route on the day of Vijayadashami, with mutual love and affection. Earlier seven idols used to pass through this route. In which the statues of Rai Bageshwari and Murarpur no longer pass. Rai Bageshwari had stopped passing the idol from Jama Masjid to reduce the stress in his life. According to communist leader Masood Manjar, he later stopped installing the statue. Even the procession of Murarpur does not go from here anymore.

Maina Pandit, resident of Murarpur, was the first to take out the idol procession through this route. The British also supported him. Social worker Lalji Prasad says that at this time five idols go for immersion, which include the idols of Golpathar, Nai Godam, Jheelganj, Tutbari and Dukh Harani Phatak.

Only these five idols are immersed in the city on the first day, the process of immersion of the remaining idols starts from the second day. It is said that this procession used to pass at the time of Lanka Dahan at Gandhi Maidan before the route of Jama Masjid and Dukhharani Temple. This was the time of Maghrib and Isha prayers. Seeing the problems being faced due to Namaz, in 1981, the then Kotwali police station in-charge PP Sharma changed the timing and allowed the idol immersion procession to take place from 9 o'clock after Isha Namaz. The atmosphere remains very pleasant.

Jama Masjid of Gaya city is one of the big and beautiful mosques of Bihar. This magnificent mosque was built by Mir Abu Saleh during 1890‑98. Mir Abu Saleh was the Nawab of Kadah. Kadha is now in Nalanda district. When Mir Abu Saleh started the construction work of this mosque, the nearby landowners also wanted to give money for the construction of the mosque, then he (Nawab - Kadah) flatly refused saying that he would get this mosque constructed with his personal money.

Due to which people opposed him, he took some small amount from the people and paid all the remaining expenses himself. At that time he had built this mosque at a cost of Rs 1 lakh 80 thousand; Which was a huge amount. Jama Masjid is running free coaching for minority students for BPSC preparation.

This coaching is proving to be a boon for the minority community students of entire Bihar. Those who cannot go to Patna-Delhi for coaching due to lack of money. Such coaching is already being conducted in Haj Bhawan of Patna but Jama Masjid of Gaya is the first mosque in Bihar where such initiative has been taken.

Three Kalash are established in Maa Dukhharani temple. Here Mata Tripur Durga is present in the form of Adishakti Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. It is believed that when sad and suffering devotees come to this temple and worship the Mother Goddess, their sorrows are vanished.

The statue of Maa Dukhharani Temple is said to be about 450 years old. Near the temple stands an old gate. It is said that this gate was built to allow entry into the city of Gaya. The Dukhharani Temple is considered a place of worship, meditation, and devotion.

The Maa Dukhharani Temple in Gaya city is very famous. Every day a crowd of devotees gathers here. On Mondays, thousands of devotees come to the mother’s court to perform worship and recitation. With Maa’s blessings, the wishes of devotees are fulfilled.

There was a time when the practice of animal sacrifice was observed in this temple, but it was discontinued after the year 1940. Now, if a devotee offers a coconut at this temple, it must be broken under the temple. To see the seated Maa Dukhharani, devotees must first go to the first floor. The Maa Dukhharani seated in this temple is in the Vaishnav form.