Waiyavi temple pauses festivities for Muslim man's funeral

News

Waiyavi Kalimai Temple president, Anand RaoA TEMPLE in Lautoka is receiving high praise for setting precedence following the passing away of a Muslim man.

The Waiyavi Kalimai Temple paused its cultural music in communal harmony for hours to pay respect to Mansoor Khan, who died after a long illness on Friday.

When Khan's death was relayed to the temple committee, they took a swift decision to temporarily cease playing 'Shehnai’ (clarinet) and handheld bass (Dhapla) music during the Mariamma pooja (prayer), which accentuates with fire walking.

“OUT of solemn respect to a former member of the temple and a longtime resident we took a decision to stop the cultural music immediately ”, said Anand Rao, the president of the Waiyavi Kalimai Temple.

“We held off sapram (faith procession) up until the funeral had left his house for his final resting place at Drasa Cemetery."

Rao said the Khan’s are strong believers of Islam faith but were very much involved in the temple from the early 70s.

“Khan was a respected person in the locality and had a good relationship with everyone, including our temple.”

Abdul Faiyaz, who has lived in Waiyavi all his life says people in Fiji need to learn life's lessons from Waiyavi Kalimai Temple on how to live and respect others religion, their beliefs and live in peace and harmony.

“I with the rest of my people owe huge respect to Rao and his committee for the respect that was paid to Khan and the grieving families", Faiyaz said.

"We have always lived close to the temple and have a good relationship with the committee and its members."

Faiyaz said he often heard the cliche that Waiyavi is the best place to live in Lautoka but as of last Friday it has stamped it as the place to live in Fiji.

Mansoor’s late father Dost Mohammed Khan was also a member of the temple in the 1980s, and very involved with the community.