Religious communities come together to ring bell at age-old

In a shining example of communal harmony, a representative each from Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Christian communities today came together to ring the bell at a 121-year-old Catholic Church in the heart of Srinagar, for the first time in 50 years.

"The original bell was damaged in a fire on June 7, 1967. Exactly 50 years later, a new bell weighing 105 kilograms was commissioned today," S M Rath, church spokesperson, told reporters.

He said the church had invited everyone for the ceremony.

"We invited everyone for ringing the bell. We wanted this to be done with all major communities here," Rath said.
 

The Catholic Church at Maulana Azad Road here was established in 1896 by Reverend Winkley. It has 40 families as members.