Religious harmony at Vaishno Devi shrine
A pilgrimage to the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, is considered to be one of the holiest pilgrimages of our times. All year round, people from all walks of life go on pilgrimage from various parts of India and even from across the seas to this shrine, which is situated in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Coexistence of the place of all religions in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh
The fort city of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh has served as the nerve center of several of North India's historic kingdoms. And in the heart of the city is the Phoolbagh Area, a special place as it houses a Theosophical Society Chapel for Christians. Moti Masjid for the followers of Islam, a temple of Hindu Lord Krishna and a Gurudwara for the Sikhs all in the same premises. 

Madrasa promoting amity among Hindus and Muslims, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh
Jahangirganj (Sakashipur Village) in Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh is a perfect example of harmony between different communities. Here, Hindus and Muslims live, work, together and even learn together in a madrasa. Known as the Niyamatul uloom madrasa, it is unlike any other madrasa. Here, Hindu and Muslim children attend classes not just to learn the teachings of Prophet Mohammad through the Quran, but also study the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Muslim couple's art breaks religious barriers, Uttar Pradesh
In a small village in Khatripura in Uttar Pradesh, Mohammad Yunus Khan and his wife Sadiqua Begum are quite popular for their artifacts made out of wheat stalks. It's not their skills or the mastery over their craft that makes them different, but their creations of intricate and beautiful images of deities from different religions.

The beautiful white marbled Khan Khaye Niyaziya dargah or shrine in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh becomes even more beautiful when thousands of lamps are lit by the devotees. These people are not celebrating the Hindu festival of lights or Diwali but are here for Jashan e chiraga or the celebration of lights a special day when devotees from different faiths throng to the shrine for a unique ritual.

New Delhi, the national capital and a melting pot of cultures, today reflects this happy synthesis, which is visible in cross faith attendance at various religious shrines in the city. An intersection of alleys and narrow lanes, Nizamuddin Village, is home to the Mausoleum of Nizamuddin Auliya. The mausoleum was built in 1562 in the memory of the great sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, who represented Chisti order of Sufism in Delhi Today devotees throng the mausoleum from all across the world irrespective of their faith.

Every year in the month of April- May tens of thousands of pilgrims from different religions carry the wooden cross at the St. Thomas International hill shrine in southern Malayatoor, Kerala. The 609 meters climb is difficult and the path has uneven surfaces and is strewn with rocks. But this does not stop the devotees from taking this route. Pilgrims carry the wooden cross to share the pain and hardship that Jesus went through on his way to crucification.

Father Dominic Emmanuel has worked for 30 years for promotion of peace and harmony in society and dialogue between different communities. He has been nominated for the national communal harmony award for the year 2008 and his achievements include the establishment of the Savadharam Sadbhav or parliament of religions. 

 Since ages, literature has played a big role in bringing people closer. In India there are many books in Urdu, Hindi and Sanskrit with tales and real life stories about communal amity that exists in this diverse nation. Haneef Muhammad Khan Shastri a devout Muslim who is proficient in Sanskrit has written several books highlighting the similarities in the content and teachings of the Hindu Holy book Gita and Quran.

One of the greatest poets and mystics, Saint Kabir Das took the Bhakti and Sufi Movement to a higher level during his lifetime. Maghar (District Sant Kabir Nagar), a tiny hamlet in the state of Uttar Pradesh, once home to Kabir Das, a saint poet of the 15th century, hosts his tomb and cremation site adjacent to each other. Today these shrines are famous pilgrim centers where people from various religious backgrounds come to offer obeisance to the Sufi saint who immortalized a way of life that transcended caste, creed, colour and religion.

The socio-cultural ethos of Kashmir is seeped in a tradition of religious tolerance. The Kheer Bhawani shrine at Tulmula is located 18 miles north of Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. Scores of devotees jostle to buy the choicest of offerings for the Hindu goddess Rajnya Devi, popularly known as Kheer Bhawani. A milk and rice pudding called Kheer is offered to the goddess, and hence the name. For local Kashmiri Hindus, it's time for an annual pilgrimage. But for those coming from different parts of the country, it is like a homecoming.

Chiseling away in a small hamlet located at Khatauna near Agra in Uttar Pradesh is a Muslim sculptor who earns his livelihood by sculpting idols of Hindu Deities. Sakhawat Ali has been carving beautiful stone sculptures from the age of 13 years and his exceptional mastery over his craft has made him quite popular in his village. His religion does not come in the way of his work and he strongly believes in respecting all religions equally.

India is a multiethnic, multicultural, multilingual and multi faith society. And over the years India has assimilated various elements into its vibrant culture. Showcasing this aspect of India is a temple in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. This unique temple has equal space slotted for four different religions within its premises.

Here is a shrine named Tajbag in Nagpur , Maharashtra ; where people can freely enter and worship according to their own faith.  The shrine Tajbag is a perfect example of communal harmony and religious tolerance.  It was build on the name of Saint Tajuddin, who was born in 1861.

Each year in July August, hundreds of devotees especially Kanwarias throng the banks of holy rivers to collect water. While this happens all over India, something special happens in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Here along with Hindu pilgrims many Muslim Kanwarias have been taking part in this pilgrimage every year.

Artist spreads unity and peace through his paintings, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh
Juhaib from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh is an artist known for his unique paintings. He doesn't use lines to draw. Instead he uses verses and passages from various religious scriptures or holy books for shading and outlining paintings. A Muslim by birth, he uses verses that talk about brotherhood and peace not only from the holy book of Muslims, The Quran, but also the holy books of Hindus and Sikhs, The Bhagavad-Gita and Guru Granth Sahib respectively.

Madrasa promotes amity between Hindus and Muslims, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh
A Madrasa in Arabic denotes a learning or a teaching place. Mostly situated next to a Mosque, Madrasas stress on Islamic teaching, usually delivered by a Muslim cleric. At this Madrasa in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, though the subjects are the same, it is run by Kamlesh Pathak, a Hindu. The Madrasa has been functioning for over a year now.It imparts English, Arabic and Urdu lessons to students up to the fifth grade.

Ganesh Chaturthi, a medium of unity in diversity, Chandausi, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh
One of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the birthday of the Hindu elephant God, Lord Ganesha the supreme god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. The festival sees large-scale celebration continuing up to ten days across the country but the preparations for the festival begin months in advance. Though a Hindu festival, it sees the participation of different communities.
 

Gurudwara Majnu ka Teela sees devotees of various faiths, New Delhi
Since centuries Delhi’s culture has been enriched by the migration of different communities that brought with them diverse patterns of cultural and religious belief systems, which were absorbed into its way of life over a period of time. Gurudwara Majnu ka Teela Saheb is one such place that reflects this spirit. Amidst the soulful recital of Gurbani or hymns in the praise of Sikh Gurus, devotees from all walks of life come here to offer prayers.
 

Hindu family hosts Iftar for muslims in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Known for the centuries-old tradition of peaceful Hindu-Muslim coexistence and a composite culture known as Ganga-Jamuni, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, continues to be an epitome of communal accord. Examples of this legacy can be found across the city, one of which was witnessed when the Hindu Gayatri family, hosted an iftar, an evening meal for breaking the day's fast, for their Muslim brothers and sisters this Ramadan.

 

Jagmohan Varshney,a hindu observes Rozas every year, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
Ramadan the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, is a month of fasting for Muslims. It is believed to be the month when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Mohammad. 70-year-old Jagmohan Varshney is a Hindu by faith but that doesn’t stop him from observing Rozas, the month long, dawn-to-dusk fasts practiced by Muslims during Ramadan.
 

Devotees visit mazar and temple located adjacent, Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is a melting pot of cultures and religions. It is home to many different communities and faiths but people here have lived in complete harmony for centuries. And you would find examples of this tradition even in remote places like at Azizpur village in Hardoi where a temple and a mazar or a mausoleum are located adjacent to each other.
 

Students teach women from various religious backgrounds, New Delhi
Attending classes is a set routine for these kids, but there is something else they have added to their daily agenda. Every day in the morning the students of Laxman Public School, in India's Capital New Delhi, spare two hours to teach these women. Under a social initiative project run by the school for the past 14 years, these women from various religious and social backgrounds have been coming here to learn how to read and write.

 

A church in Kerela hosts Iftar for Muslims, Changanassery, Kerala
The holy month of Ramadan is considered the most venerated, blessed and spiritually beneficial month for all Muslims. Prayers, fasting and charity are especially stressed at this time; religious observances associated with Ramadan are kept throughout the month.

 

Dussehra, a festival of oneness, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh
Regarded as the most significant festivals of Hindus, Dussehra marks the victory of the Hindu God Ram over the demon king Ravana, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. The highlight of this festival is the ramlila, a folk re-enactment of Lord Ram's life. Staged annually often-over ten or more successive nights, ramlila culminates on Vijayadashami or Dussehra dayin Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. Performed in open air theatres by professional troupes called mandalis, the ramlila is a mix of dance, music, mime, acting and poetry.

School in Indore promotes feeling of accord, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
One of the most popular gods in the Hindu pantheon is the monkey god hanuman. Devotees who pray to the bachelor God hanuman usually chant the Hanuman Chalisa, an Awadhi poem written by poet Tulsidas. It is believed that the person who chants this prayer 100 times daily for 100 days will become free from the cycle of birth and death. And in Indore located in Madhya Pradesh, students begin their day by chanting this chalisa every day. What is special about this routine is the involvement of students from different religious background.

People forget religious barriers at Urs of Baba Ganji Sharif, Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir
The death anniversary of a Sufi saint is known as Urs which in Arabic refers to a wedding. Sufis believe that after death, saints are united with their beloved or with god. An Urs is usually held at a saint's dargah, which is a shrine or tomb, and celebrated with great fanfare. Every year in Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir, the Urs of Sufi saint Ganji Sharif sees devotees from across the country thronging his shrine.

Annual Baba Farid fair,perfect example of religious tolerance, Punjab
Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar commonly known, as baba Farid was a Muslim Sufi saint born in 1188. He was among the prominent Chishti Sufis of north India and is considered one of the pivotal saints of the Punjab region. He is regarded as the prime mystic poet of Punjabi language and his dohas a genre of poetry are quoted by the founder of Sikh religion Guru Nanak in the holy book of the Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib.

Muslims prepare the account books i.e. Chopadas for Diwali in Ahmedabad, Gujarat
The festival of lights or Diwali marks the return of lord ram to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and his victory over Ravana. An important Hindu festival, Diwali witnesses a grand celebration across the country. Houses are lit up, special pujas or prayers are conducted, sweets exchanged and fireworks light up the evening sky. It is also believed that on this day goddess Lakshmi or the goddess of wealth visits everyone. So special Lakshmi pujas also called the chopda puja or Sharda Pujan" are held to evoke the blessings of the goddess. Chopadas are prepared by Muslims. while preparing the Chopadas they pray that these Chopadas should bring good luck to the people who buy them. 

Muslim families prepare candles and Batashas for Diwali in Haldwani, Uttarakhand
Diwali is one of the most important Hindu festivals. Legend has it that on this day lord Ram along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile after the victory over Ravana the demon king. To welcome them the people of Ayodhya lit their homes with diyas or earthen wick lamps symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. This tradition is still followed during Diwali. Earthen wick lamps, different types of electric lights and candles light up people’s home on the festival of lights and sweets are offered to God. Interestingly, sweets and candles made by Muslims in Haldwani, are used by Hindu brothers and sisters strengthening  feeling of brotherhood and communal harmony. 

Muslims help Hindus to renovate temple in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
Kashmir in northern India is unparalleled in its natural beauty and vibrant culture. Having been exposed to many different religions, Kashmiri culture saw a diffusion of various religious elements, which led to the formation of a unique tolerant way of life. The pluralistc society of kashmir still lives by the age old ideals and one can see this at the old Bod mandir or big temple in the Rainawari region of Srinagar.
 

Muslims participate in the Hindu festival of Chhath in Bihar
Alam who is giving finishing touches to his clay stoves, is a Muslim by faith and a potter by profession. He and his family have been engaged for the past 25 years in making these clay ovens during this time of the year. It is time for one of the most popular Hindu festivals celebrated in Bihar, Chhath. Alam believes that by making and selling these stoves that have a huge demand among the Hindus, he not only earns money but also contributes to the festival.
 

A Temple has idols of deities belonging to various faiths in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh
At a casual glance this building located at Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh may pass off as just another Hindu place of worship. But it is not. A compound wall painted with flags belonging to different nations lines a passage that leads to the interiors. Inside Sanatan Vishwa Darshan Mandir one can find idols of deities and saints belonging to various faiths.
 

Gulab Shah’s mazar witnesses devotees from all faiths in Chattarpur, Madhya Pradesh
India is a land of diversities, where differences co-exist in complete harmony. There are many places in India, which showcase this legacy. Baba Gulab Shah’s mazar, in Naugaon a small town in Chattarpur district in Madhya Pradesh is one such place. People from every faith revere the Baba with all their heart. They believe in his power to grant wishes and come from all over the country to pay obeisance.
 

Addi Shakti Asthan Peeth sees devotees of different faiths in Karnataka
In India there are no boundaries set up restricting people from following each other’s religious rituals or practices. The people queuing up here are an example of this fact. They have all lined up in the hope of being blessed by goddess Addi Shakti a manifestation of the Hindu goddess Durga. It is believed that the goddess cures all illnesses and solves all problems.
 

A church in Kerela has pageant of elephants during its festival in Kunnamkulam, Kerala
Lord Ganesh is a Hindu deity with an elephant head and is believed to be a remover of obstacles. This is why he is worshipped before beginning any task. And this is why elephants too are considered important. One can see pageant of caparisoned elephants during most Hindu festivals celebrated in the southern state of Kerela. But the ensemble of devotees in Kunnamkulam town near Kerala’s cultural capital Thrissur are not here for a Hindu festival. The event is the annual festival of St Georges Orthodox Church. 

Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims live in perfect harmony at Malerkotla in Punjab
Punjab is a land rich in its cultural heritage which that is an amalgamation of ethos belonging to various faiths and their traditions. One such place that showcases this pluralistic nature of the Punjabi society…. is the small town of Malerkotla. With Hindus and Sikhs living in perfect harmony with their Muslim brethren for over five centuries, Malerkotla epitomizes communal amity and brotherhood.
 

Hyder Shah's Mazar  sees devotees of various faiths in Karnataka
Adherents of Sufi Islam follow a common practice of visiting tombs of saints, great scholars, and righteous people. The practice is believed to help invoke blessings, divine favor and gain proximity with the almighty. About 90 miles from Bangalore in Kirangoor, located in  Karnataka, is the Mazar of Hyder Shah Wali Baba. It is visited by devotees from different religions seeking divine grace.
 

People from different sects live in complete harmony in Malerkotla,Punjab
Its dawn and silence prevails in Malerkotla town and so does harmony. People in this Muslim dominated town have been living in peace since ages and the region has never seen or heard of any conflict in the past. In fact the town is a shining example of Hindu Muslim and Sikh unity and showcasing this example of inter faith harmony is Bharat Engineering Works in the town.
 

Babbayya Temple,a Hindu temple reflects Unity in Diversity, Bengaluru, Karnataka
India has a history of co-existence of different cultures and religions. Yet another example of this legacy is a Babayya Temple in Thadagavadi, a village in Mandya district 93 miles away from Bengaluru in Southern Karnataka. Legend has it that some two hundred years ago some swords and an Idol of Hindu Goddess Mahakali was found in this village. The temple is being visited by people from different religious which is a symbol of brotherhood and fraternity.      

Devotees from different communities throng Bulle Shah's shrine, Ferozepur, Punjab
A humanist and a philosopher Bulle Shah is considered as one of the greatest Sufi saints. Born in 1680 in a family directly descended from the Prophet Muhammad, he is known for practicing the Sufi tradition promoted Punjabi poetry and inspired by Sufi poets like Shah Hussain and Sultan Bahu. Though Bulle Shah was born in a small village of Uch Bahawalpur, Punjab now in Pakistan, one of his shrines is located in the small village of Kandhwala Hazarkhan in Ferozepur and well attended by people from different faiths. 

Kashmiri Pashmina shawls tell the tale of communal amity
Jammu and Kashmir the northern most state of India is known for its pristine beauty.I t is also known for amity between the many communities present here. The alluring Pashmina shawls of Kashmir showcase this legacy, as woven in the threads of these shawls, is the history of harmony present between different communities. Since time immemorial, Pashmina shawls have been woven and manufactured by Muslims and marketed by Hindu traders. Pashmina shawls spread the progremme of Hindu-Muslim fraternity throughout the country. 

Madrasa brings different communities together, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh
Madrasa is an Arabic word, which refers to an educational institution. Offering Islamic studies and other additional courses in English and science, Madrasas are usually associated with Muslims. But the Jamia Barkatul Uloom madrasa located in Panjith, a tiny hamlet near the city of Muzaffarnagar in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh is different. The students at this Madrasa are not just Muslims but also Hindus, which is a unique reflection of togetherness.
 

Displaying brotherhood, Hindu, Muslim run business together, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
India is a developing country and in every nook and corner of this multi faith nation one can find big and small business establishments flourishing and contributing to the country's growth story. In the by lanes of famous Soni Market in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city lies a jewellery shop - Roop Shringar Arts Jewelers. Established in 1992 by two goldsmiths, this shop is a perfect example of communal harmony in the country.
 

Hindus-Muslims in J and K work together and reflect communal amity
Jammu and Kashmir is known for its spirit of tolerance and harmony between religions. And fruit cultivation provides an example of this tradition with Hindus and Muslims working together in this sector. The farmers who are involved in fruit production belong to the Muslim community and the traders who sell the fruits in the markets are Hindus. Jammu is one of the major fruit producing cities of the country. The fruit mandi here sees trading of more than hundred thousand dollars every season. And religion has never come in the way of doing business here that is growing by leaps and bounds.

Tiny hamlet of Adampur is a symbol of unity in diversity of India
Adampur Village is situated 13 miles away from Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh. This tiny hamlet has a Nag or Snake Temple and Mazars or Mausoleums of two Muslim saints located adjacent to each other. The Mausoleums are of Hazrat Khwaja Hassan Sheikh Soharwardi commonly known as Bade Sarkar and Shah Vilayat Khwaja Badruddin known as Chote Sarkar. According to legend, they came from Saudi Arabia to India in 1211 AD and settled down here. After their death, the Mausoleums were built to pay homage to the saints. Later, a Hindu priest Rajesh Tiwari built a Nag Temple next to the mausoleums, with the aim of spreading amity between Hindu and Muslim residents of the village.

Devotees from all faiths visit mausoleum of Maner in Bihar
Taking one to the boundless bliss of complete surrender to the glory and love of one Supreme Being, beyond all differences of faith, is the essence of Sufism. And this spirit comes alive as scores of Hindus, Muslim and Sikh devotees gather in large numbers to visit the mausoleum of Maner. Situated at about 16 miles from Patna, Maner is considered to be one of the earliest centers of Sufism in the eastern state of Bihar and is named after a 13th century Sufi saint Hazrat Sheikh Makhdum Yahia Maneri, whose mausoleum it houses. The Sufi saint died at Maner in 1608, and Ibrahim Khan, the then  Governor of Bihar and one of the saint's disciples completed the erection of this mausoleum in 1616. Now the mausoleum is popular amongst all faiths.

Hindu, Muslims work together in a weaving factory of Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh 
Weaving is one of the most important industries in the Indian economy. With thousands of weavers, in villages of Faizabad, this district in Northern Uttar Pradesh has carved a niche for itself in weaving handkerchiefs or Kafia. And the reason of this success is attributed to harmony that prevails between Hindu and Muslim workers. Step by step, these workers make each handkerchief with utmost care. The meticulous joint effort speaks volumes about the embedded virtues of acceptance and tolerance.

Hindu, Muslim kite-makers in Ahmedabad, Gujarat convey the message of communal amity 
Located in the western part of the nation, Gujarat state has seen many different civilizations come and go and enrich the region's cultural heritage, which is a harmonious mix of Hindu traditions and Muslim customs. Hindu and Muslim kite-makers in Ahmedabad’s famous Jamalpur Kite market are busy carrying forward this tradition of amity and brotherhood in their own special way. All of them are busy in preparations for the festival of Uttarayan, that coincides Makar Sankranti, which falls on 14th January and is marked by a kite festival. Uttarayan is celebrated by the people of all faiths with equal zeal and harmony.

Muslim lecturer translates couplets from Gita into Urdu
Language should not come as a barrier in understanding Holy Scriptures; this is the belief of a Muslim academician and a renowned Urdu Poet Anwar Jalalpuri, a resident of Jalalpur in Ambedkar Nagar district 124 miles away from Lucknow. This messenger of peace has taken an initiative to disseminate the teachings of Hindu scripture Bhagwat Gita also referred as ' The Celestial Song' to his Muslim brethren by translating it into Urdu. An English lecturer by profession Anwar Jalalpuri has so far completed the translation of 40 Shlokas out of the total 700 verses.

Together reflected by Women of different religions in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh
Embroidery is one of the most ancient and popular art forms in Indian Villages and it has been a major source of income for rural women as well. Woven in the threads of harmony, thousands of women from different religions, caste and creed in Raunahee village in Faizabad district (Uttar Pradesh), are involved making colourful embroidered designs on caps, a vocation that has been in vogue for generations.

Baba Shah Badshah’s Mausoleum - equally respected by Hindus and Muslims
Kashmir provides some of the clearest instances of shared religious identities, and for ages, Hindus and Muslims in this region have lived and worked together. Despite Kashmiri Hindus and Muslims having separate cultures and traditions, both religions have always had a positive influence on each other's way of living. The result of such amalgamation is such, that Kashmir has seen the emergence of several Sufi saints, each with a different outlook. This is well reflected by the mausoleum of Baba Shah Badshah at Rajouri District, Jammu & Kashmir.

A Hindu, promotes communal harmony through calligraphy
Art has no religious boundary and this calligraphist Shri Anil Chauhan living in the heart of Hyderabad, the city of nawabs in Andhra Pradesh, has proved this fact. Anil Kumar Chauhan a Hindu by faith has been painting verses of the holy Quran on the walls of various Mosques and similar other Muslim monumental structures in the city. A
 

Bangle industry in Moradabad depicts communal amity
In every nook and corner of this multi faith nation one can find big and small business establishments flourishing and contributing to the country's growth story. The city of Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh with thousands of wood foundries, has carved out a niche for itself in the wooden bangle industry. Its bangles are famous all over India and the reason for this success is attributed to harmony between Hindu and Muslim workers, who have developed strong professional and social bond amongst themselves.