By Girish Kumar Dubey
Through this collective effort, craftsmen of both religions said they hoped to promote a sense of brotherhood among each other.
According to craftsmen, volunteers from all religions also offered financial help to purchase raw material for the shround.
"Whether it's our Hindu, Muslim or Sikh brethren, all of them have put in their efforts (for this). They have taken out the time to come and work on this, and have contributed money as well; they have helped in every way to make this shroud. That's why we've used three colours - to signify brotherhood, unity and peace - to create this shroud, and we will take this shroud to Gharib Nawaz (Sufi saint Moinuddin Chisti) and present it there," said Shahnawaz Akhtar, a Muslim craftsman.
Through this artistic amalgamation, the craftsmen said they hoped peace prevails in India.
"The message we want to convey is that we want brotherhood and peace to prevail in our nation, our world, and that is what the prayer of our community is when we go there - that we all live peacefully," said Mohsin Akhtar, a Muslim craftsman.
Once the shroud is finished, the craftsmen will take it to the dargah (shrine at the tomb) of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer at the end of May, in time for the saint's death anniversary, where it will be laid over his grave.
Hindu and Muslim craftsmen in India's northern Uttar Pradesh work together to weave and richly decorate a shroud for Sufi saint Moinuddin Chisti, which would be presented at his tomb.
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (MAY 25, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. CRAFTSMEN PREPARING A SHROUD
2. MUSLIM CRAFTSMAN EMBROIDERING
3. CRAFTSMAN DOING FINISHING WORK
4. FACE OF A MUSLIM CRAFTSMAN
5. CRAFTSMAN DOING FINISHING WORK
6. CLOSE OF DECORATION
7. MUSLIM CRAFTSMEN DOING FINISHING WORK ON SHROUD
8. A CRAFTSMAN USING SCISSORS FOR FINISHING
9. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SHAHNAWAZ AKHTAR, A MUSLIM CRAFTSMAN, SAYING:
"Whether it's our Hindu, Muslim or Sikh brethren, all of them have put in their efforts (for this). They have taken out the time to come and work on this, and have contributed money as well; they have helped in every way to make this shroud. That's why we've used three colours - to signify brotherhood, unity and peace - to create this shroud, and we will take this shroud to Gharib Nawaz (Sufi saint Moinuddin Chisti) and present it there."
10. A HINDU CRAFTSMAN EMBROIDERING QURANIC COUPLETS ON THE SHROUD
11. A CRAFTSMAN SMOOTHING SURFACE OF SHROUD, WHILE ANOTHER DOES FINISHING WORK
12. THE RICHLY EMBROIDERED SHROUD
13. TWO CRAFTSMEN EMBROIDERING THE SHROUD
14. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) MOHSIN AKHTAR, A MUSLIM CRAFTSMAN, SAYING:
"The message we want to convey is that we want brotherhood and peace to prevail in our nation, our world, and that is what the prayer of our community is when we go there - that we all live peacefully."
15. CRAFTSMEN DOING FINISHING WORK
16. CRAFTSMEN AT WORK
17. A MOTIF PICKED OUT IN BEADS
18. ANOTHER MOTIF PICKED OUT IN BEADS AND RHINESTONES
19. CRAFTSMEN DOING FINISHING WORK ON THE SHROUD
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