In the busy Chandni Chowk area, near Jama Masjid, hundreds of goats were gathered around Vivek Jain in the courtyard of a Jain temple. Vivek, a 30-year-old chartered accountant, had raised Rs 15 lakh to save 124 goats from being slaughtered during Eid al-Adha, a Muslim festival known for animal sacrifice. To calm the goats, Vivek played powerful Jain mantras through a speaker, hoping to bring peace to the frightened animals.
The Naya Jain Mandir in Dharampur was filled with excitement, similar to the bustling goat markets before Eid. However, the temple’s excitement was about saving goats, not selling them.
For Jains in Chandni Chowk, it was a special day to see and interact with the goats. People came to the temple to see the animals, donate money for their care, and show pride in their religion.
The Jain community’s effort to save the goats quickly gained attention both in the local area and online. The hashtag “Jain” trended on X (formerly Twitter) with over 21,000 posts. People from various communities, including Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs, noticed the otherwise obscure Jain temple in Old Delhi, now famous for its rescue mission.
Vivek Jain expressed pride in the community’s efforts, calling it a historic moment for the Jains in Chandni Chowk. He was hopeful that this was just the beginning of such initiatives. The idea originated from their guru, Sanjeev, who was upset about the slaughtering of goats on Eid. He encouraged the community to save as many goats as they could.
To accommodate the rescued goats, the temple’s Dharamshala courtyard, usually used for weddings and events, was cleared. Community members from different states contributed to the cause, raising Rs 15 lakh within a day. With the funds, they bought fodder like ladyfinger and spinach to feed the goats.
A message was sent out on social media asking for donations to save more goats from slaughter. The response was overwhelming, allowing them to rescue 124 goats. The next challenge was finding a place to keep them. A Jain-run goat shelter in Baghpat was chosen, where the goats would be housed and cared for.
In Baghpat’s Aminagar Sarai, Manoj Jain was preparing an enclosure for the new goats. His shelter, which follows the principle of non-violence, currently cares for 615 goats rescued from Eid celebrations across Bharat. The shelter relies entirely on donations from the Jain community.
Imran and Mushtaq, two elderly Muslims, noticed the activity at the Jain temple and later learned about the rescue mission from news and social media. They expressed respect for the Jains’ beliefs and their commitment to saving animals, highlighting the importance of allowing everyone to practice their religion peacefully.
The rescue effort by the Jain community not only saved 124 goats but also brought attention to their principles of non-violence and compassion, fostering a sense of mutual respect among different religious communities.
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