As the world is grappling with growing bigotry, social inequalities and climate crisis, a Sikh businessman has raised some hopes for a better future. Ludhiana-based bakery owner Harinder Singh Kukreja has been crafting chocolate Ganesha for the past four years.
Ganesha is one of the most revered Hindu gods. Known for his elephant head, Ganesha’s festival falls this month. It is an auspicious occasion for Hindus who often build big idols of him and immerse them into the water. The practice has raised concerns over the years as the paint and material used for making such statues is not good for the environment.
Kukreja came up with an idea of chocolate Ganesha to not only save water from pollutants, but also to bring smiles on the faces of poor and underprivileged kids. His Ganesha is immersed into milk and the kids are given free chocolate milk as a Prasad.
The most inspiring part of the story is that Kukreja involved a Muslim artist to craft Ganesha idol with 106 kg Belgian chocolate this time. Thus he has set a great example of making cross cultural bridges when minorities, especially Muslims continue to be targeted by Hindu extremists under a right wing Hindu nationalist government in New Delhi.
Both Kukreja and the Muslim artist involved in the project belong to the minority communities which do not believe in idol worshipping and yet they came together to give their respect to a Hindu god in an unusual manner that goes long way in saving the environment and embracing the poor, besides sending a strong message to those who are trying to divide people on religious lines to stay in power.