A Muslim woman, dressed in a burqa, was welcomed with chants of "Har Har Mahadev" as she returned to Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, after completing a 170-kilometre Kanwar Yatra to Haridwar, where she had brought back Gangajal. On Mahashivratri, she performed the 'jalabhishek' by offering the holy water of the Ganges to Lord Shiva at the Kshem Nath Temple in Sambhal.
Tamanna Malik, originally from Badanpur Basai village, married Aman Tyagi, a Hindu from the same village, three and a half years ago. The 'jalabhishek' she performed on Sunday was part of a vow she made when she married Tyagi.
As their marriage was interfaith, Malik had pledged to perform the ritual if she wed Tyagi. The couple now has two children, Aryan and Daksh, aged two and one.
After eloping and getting married, the pair returned to their village a year ago. Reflecting on their experience, Malik shared, "My husband has been incredibly supportive, and we were welcomed warmly with flowers at several places. Many people from the Sanatan Dharma community supported us, and those who opposed are few and should be ignored."
In response to questions about her attire, Malik said, "I have always worn a burqa, so I don’t see why it should be an issue now." She and her husband set off for the Yatra to Haridwar on February 10, returning the following day.
Aman Tyagi expressed his gratitude for the help they received along the journey, mentioning the significant support from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, and other members of the Sanatan Dharma community. He also noted that people from Amroha and Noorpur had joined them on their pilgrimage.