Dombivli: In a heartening display of communal harmony, the Shivshankar Nagar Mitra Mandal in Dombivli has been celebrating the public Ganeshotsav with great fervour for the past 18 years. The unique aspect of this celebration is its leadership, with Raju Sheikh, a member of the Muslim community, serving as the President since the Mandal's inception.

The mandal, located at Shelar Naka in Dombivli East, continues to uphold the spirit of unity and inclusiveness that was championed by Lokmanya Tilak. Despite the diverse backgrounds of its members, the Ganeshotsav organized by Shivshankar Nagar Mitra Mandal sees enthusiastic participation from both Hindu and Muslim community members.

Sheikh, who is deeply involved in every aspect of the festival from the idol's installation to its immersion, expressed that the aarti is a gesture of prayer for social harmony, peace, and global happiness.

Every year several dignitaries, including BJP Kalyan election chief Shashikant Kamble and Kalyan district secretary Mukesh Senghani, join the celebrations and witness the unique brotherhood where members from Muslim and Hindu community perform rituals to Lord Ganesha.