For the past 15 years, three friends have worked during the Palkhi, Ganeshotsav, on Independence Day and Republic Day to create a better social environment.
For the past 15 years, three friendsu00a0 have worked during the Palkhi, Ganeshotsav, on Independence Day and Republic Day to create a better social environment. Rafik Aamir Khan, Sameer Sheikh and Eliyas Sheikh are there names, and they have been together for decades now.
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| Active participants: Eliyas Shaikh and Rafik Aamir Khan volunteer during the Palkhi and Ganesh festival. Pic/Nikhil Ghorpade |
They have been providing food and accommodation to devotees during the Palkhi for 15 years. "It always feels good to provide devotees food and accommodation. We three make it a point to be there every year," said Rafik.
During Ganapati they voluntarily participate with Ganesh mandals."We participate in volunteer activities, handling the crowd and maintaining peace. It's important because during festivals the crowd goes out of control and safety of women and kids is at stake," said Sameer.
It does not bother these Muslims that they help out with Hindu festivals. "We are doing this on humanitarian grounds and humanity has no religion," said Eliyas.The three also visit various NGOs, especially on August 15 and January 26, to distribute food, toys and chocolates.
"It hardly takes any money to feed these kids but this makes them happy, which makes us feel good," said Eliyas.
