The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India c12.s3.11

c12.s3.11

In Uttar Pradesh, and in the central parts of Bihar, there were fairly large semi-converted neo-Muslim tribes. North of the Ganga in the district of Purnea, while there were educated and orthodox Muslims also, the dividing line between the religious beliefs and practices of the lower class Hindus and Muslims was very thin indeed. In every village could be found a shrine dedicated to the worship of goddess *Kali* and almost in every house a *Khudai Ghar*, and in their prayers the names of both *Allah* and *Kali* were invoked. A part of the Muslim marriage ceremony was performed at the shrine of the goddess *Bhagwati*. The most popular deity among both Hindus and Muslims was *Devata Maharaj*. In the Barasat and Bashirhat sub-divisions of 24-Parganas the Muslim woodcutters and fishermen venerated *Mubrah* (Mubarak?) Ghazi. In the Chittagong district, Pir Badar was venerated by Hindu as well as Muslim sailors as their guardian saint.