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Meet the Muslim woman from Varanasi who has been carving Shiva Lingams for the past 17 years

Alam Ara, a Muslim women in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi has set an example of communal harmony by making Shiva Lingas for the past 17 years.

Amid growing debate over the increasing religious intolerance in India, Alam Ara, a Muslim women in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi has set an example of communal harmony by making Shiva Lingas for the past 17 years.

Ara, who is one of millions of Muslim artisans in India, says, “It is a God-gifted art and we make the lingam with love.”

UP: Varanasi’s Alam Ara making Shiva Lingam for the last 17 years to earn a living, says “this is god-gifted art, we make it with love” pic.twitter.com/bIJZvvWGoe

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) July 22, 2017

According to an ANI report when she was asked that whether her religion has come in the way, she said, “This is our daily bread. When it comes to our art, we aren’t Hindus or Muslims. We’re Indians first and always.”

Ye humari rozi hai…Hindu-Muslim se kuch nahi hota hai. Hum Hindustani hain: Varanasi’s Alam Ara on making Shiva Lingam for 17 years pic.twitter.com/aASkM4nkW3

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) July 22, 2017

Being the sole bread winner in her family, Alam Ara moulds and crafts the Lingas and later sells them to the shopkeeper.

Despite facing criticism from her community, Ara continued her ancestral business and believes that this is god-gifted art, and she makes it with love.

Video Courtesy: YouTube

People like Alam Ara surely restore our faith in humanity, espcially at a time when the country is facing incidents of communal violence almost everyday.

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