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Lord Ganesha's invitation for nikaah ceremony!

Rakesh Dhimer in Surat

A marriage invitation card received by some citizens here has aroused the curiosity of many. The card written in Gujarati has a picture of Lord Ganesha on right and Sai Baba on the left. The card is like that of any Hindu marriage invitation except that it is an invitation to the nikaah ceremony of Shabanabi and Sheikh Rahim.

Shabana is the foster daughter of Gajraben Patel, who runs a tea stall in Ambawadi.

When Shabana was four-months-old, her mother Rabiya died. Her father left her in custody of her maternal grand mother Betunben.

Gajraben and Betunben were friends. When Gajraben saw Shabana he decided to adopt her. Gajraben told rediff.com, "I had six children at that time. Still when I saw Shabana, when she was just four months old, I decided to adopt her. I have brought her up like my own child for the last 20 years. But I have also given her an Islamic education."

Gajraben's elder children would drop Shabana at a madarasa before going to school every day.

When Shabana's marriage was fixed, Betunben insisted on a special kankotry (marriage invitation card). The card is issued by 14 relatives of Gajraben. None of her Muslim relatives are mentioned.

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