Sharadiya Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community, is being celebrated across 590 puja mandaps in Barishal district this year, with law enforcement personnel deployed to ensure a peaceful atmosphere.
Amongst these venues, a unique symbol of religious harmony has drawn attention in the Adhuna area of Sarikal Union in Gournadi Upazila, where the Shenerhat Bazar Jame Mosque and the Sarbojonin Durga Temple stand just 10 feet apart on the same ground.
For over 54 years, followers of both religions have observed their rituals side by side, with Muslim devotees offering Namaz on one side of the field while Hindu worshippers perform puja and burn incense on the other.
During Durga Puja, celebrations at the temple feature the beating of dhak-dhol, ulu sounds, blowing of conch shells, and all-night arati ceremonies.
However, the moment the Azan begins at the adjacent mosque, Hindu worshippers observe complete silence and halt their proceedings, resuming their rituals only after Namaz ends.
Swapan Bhattacharya, the priest of the temple, affirmed that the brotherly bond between both communities has existed for a long time, noting that rituals are paused during Azan so that neither group causes inconvenience to the sacred spaces of the other.
Shankar Chandra Das, president of the temple committee, explained that the Adhuna Shener Bari Sarbojonin Durga Temple was established in 1972, with the Adhuna Jame Mosque constructed later on the same field just 10 feet away. He added that having the temple and mosque side by side has created no issues, reflecting a 54-year tradition of harmony free from any trace of hatred or malice.
In addition to maintaining peace, local Muslim residents actively assist their Hindu neighbours in celebrating the festival.
Maksud Mridha, a local social worker, shared that communal harmony is deeply rooted in local culture, with Muslims visiting puja mandaps since childhood, and Hindu neighbours attending Eid celebrations and wedding ceremonies.
Maulana Kamrul Islam, Imam of Adhuna Shener Bari Jame Mosque, emphasised that there is no religious fanaticism at the site, as Hindu worshippers stop the sound of dhak-dhol whenever Azan sounds at the mosque and resume after prayers conclude.
Gournadi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Ibrahim praised the setting in Adhuna village, describing it as an extraordinary example of communal harmony that has been spreading lessons of peace for years. He expressed hope for a social system where people of all faiths live together in harmony, transcending divisions to forge new bonds across all communities.
