Kerala Imam Opens Mosques to Hindu Festival-Goers

When Imam V.P. Suhaib Maulavi stood before worshippers at Palayam mosque in Thiruvananthapuram, India, he delivered a message that would touch hearts far beyond those Friday prayers.

He asked his Muslim community to open their mosques and homes to welcome Hindu women and children arriving for the Attukal Pongala festival on March 3. Despite the timing overlapping with Ramadan, the imam saw an opportunity for connection rather than division.

"We should share the experiences of joy, brotherhood, and love during Ramadan with our sisters and their children," he told the congregation. The Attukal Pongala festival draws hundreds of thousands of women to the city to prepare special offerings to the goddess Attukal Devi.

The imam encouraged families to provide drinking water, traditional Ramadan foods, and places to rest for the travelers. He emphasized that acts of love and friendship counter the rising religious hatred spreading across India and the world.

Video clips of his sermon quickly spread online, with people sharing his words as proof that compassion can bridge any divide. The timing felt especially meaningful given recent tensions around a controversial film about Kerala.

This tradition of interfaith hospitality runs deep in Thiruvananthapuram. Every year, the historic Valiyapalli Muslim Jamath mosque at Manacaud opens its grounds to festival attendees, offering water, restrooms, and shade from the heat.

The mosque also provides space for emergency workers including police, firefighters, and medical staff who stand ready to help during the massive gathering. These gestures have become a proud annual tradition for the community.

The Ripple Effect

The imam's message resonates beyond one city or one festival. In a world where religious differences too often spark conflict, these acts of neighborly kindness offer a different path forward.

When people from different faiths actively care for each other during their most sacred times, they create living proof that diversity strengthens rather than weakens communities. Children watching their parents welcome festival attendees learn that religious devotion and interfaith friendship aren't opposites.

The viral spread of this story suggests people everywhere hunger for examples of connection overcoming division. One sermon from one mosque has now inspired conversations about religious harmony across the country and beyond.

What happens in Thiruvananthapuram during Pongala shows the world what's possible when communities choose welcome over walls.