Iftar party at Hanuman temple in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW: In a rare gesture of communal amity, Muslims visited a temple here to participate in an Iftar party thrown by their Hindu friends.

Organised on Monday evening at a Hanuman temple in Govindpuri area in Chinhat locality, the party witnessed as many as 150 members from both communities.

"It was a memorable experience for us," Mohammed Alam said.

"We covered our heads with skull caps and hankies and then sat forming two queues on either side of Bajrang Bali," he recalled.

"Initially, plates full of dates were served before us. This was followed by deep-fried kachauries."

As the Azan (call for prayers) from a mosque a few metres away "fell on our ears, we together started enjoying the delicacies kept before us," recounted Alam, 55, who owns a cement shop in the same locality.

The party was organised for the first time in Govindpuri, which is a home to nearly 1,000 people.

Members of Hindu community, who organised the party, said it aimed to bridge the rift between the two communities in the backdrop of terror activities taking place in various parts of the country.

"It is true that Hindu-Muslims relations can't be changed overnight," said Kripal Singh, 64, an advocate residing in the same locality, who helped in organising the party.

"Such a gathering is an attempt to share thoughts and ideas that can help bridge the inter-community relations, he added.