Muslim zari workers weave a bond of communal harmony.

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KENDRAPADA: Non-Hindus may be debarred from entering the Jagannath temple but Muslim jari workers play a major role in adorning the colourful chariots that will the cynosure of all eyes on Sunday.

The centuries-old tradition of Muslim artisans decorating the ratha cloth with intricate zari work was palpable in the festival preparations at Kedrapada, Pattamundai and Rajnagar areas of Kendrapada district.

"I have been sewing clothes for the chariots for the past 10 years, the enthusiasm and devotion is always the same every year," said Arif Ali an artisan of Pattamundai. "My forefathers were in the same profession. We wait the entire year for Ratha Yatra to sew clothes for the chariot," said 50-year-old Sahid Ali.

Various artisan groups come up with new ideas and innovations every year. "Each group has a different way of making decorative clothes and jari designs," said Sahid Ali.

The art has evolved with time, however, developing into more intricate patterns, as opposed to a simpler design earlier, said artisans. "In a bid to attract more people and make the festival more exciting now, we use cloth of different colours with more jari work to cover the chariots. Paint is also used to make the rathas more attractive," said Rahamat Ali, an artisan of Kendrapada.

The practice is also said to promote communal harmony and brotherhood. "Every Rath Yatra sees more than fifty such Muslim families working in full swing to complete the jari works on the clothes to cover the chariots. The jari works on the coloured clothes of the chariots are not only remarkable in their beauty but are also a symbol of communal harmony. It is very beautiful how people cutting across caste, creed and religion come together to celebrate the famous car festival throughout the district and other parts of the state," said Prafulla Nayak, managing trustee of Jagannath temple in Patarapur village of the district. "Festivals are not merely time for celebrations. They also give a bigger message of communal harmony, a message which many of us seem to forget at other times," he said.

"We are spreading the message of communal harmony by doing jari work and sewing colourful clothes for the chariots. Our aim is to keep a harmonious relationship between the two communities," seconded Sarafat Ali of Pattamundai.