TUMKUR: For the new generation of youths, it seems like religion is no bar as they practise many at a time. Despite being faithful to their original religion, they embrace other faiths with ease.
Class X student Lalith Singh Chouhan in Sira town who worships Goddess Durga at home offers prayers at mosques regularly. Like a devout Muslim, he observed the month-long Ramzan by fasting.
His parents Narayana Singh and Pistadevi didn’t curb his enthusiasm either.
They hail from Rajasthan and shifted to Bangalore three decades ago and then to Sira 15 years ago.
The family of four, including Lalith’s younger brother Jaswanth, lives in Peshwa Mohallah and they eke out a living by running a three-wheeler automobile spare parts shop.
Interestingly, Lalith is a pure vegetarian and has never touched non-vegetarian food. Asked if he has any intention of converting to Islam, he ruled it out saying he is too small to think of it.
“I was inspired by youths of a garage near our shop about three years ago and started going to the mosque,” he said.
Our family deity is Durga and we worship her at home, said his father Narayan Singh.
Meanwhile Prathik, a Jain youth in Tumkur city, has got the sphenic number 786, that also signifies the Arabic letters of the opening phrase of the Quran, for his new Vespa scooter.
The youth who got his scooter painted in all hues and colours didn’t mind as it is a fancy number.