Author: N Rathi Chithra
Publication: News Today
Date: January 5, 2006
URL: http://www.newstodaynet.com/05jan/ss3.htm
Religion cannot be a barricade to identify
one's self with the essence or the spirit of India. This was yet again proved
by a Muslim couple Sheik Mahaboob Subhani and Kaleeshabi Mahaboob, who dedicated
themselves in promoting the art of playing Nadaswaram. Though traditional
Carnatic music in India deals much about Hindu Gods and mythologies, it never
restrained this couple to get into that.
When News Today caught up with the couple
in Chennai, Mahaboob said though he and his wife belonged to Islam they never
hesitated to respect the beliefs, customs and traditions of Hinduism. 'We
as a couple have performed in all the prominent Hindu temples like that of
Madurai Meenakshi, Samayapuram Mariamman and in Srirangam, Pazhani and Thiruchendoor.
His wife Kaleeshabi, who looks like a traditional
Hindu woman with kum kum, said, 'while I was performing at a Mariamman Temple
once, a group of Hindu women came there and requested me to apply kum kum
since they felt that for a good occasion, the bindhi has to be sported. So
I accepted their views and thought the requisition has come from the Almighty
herself'.
