Mangaluru: Mangaluru might be known for several instances of communal tension, but a heart-warming incident reported on Friday, might change that notion.

In a gesture that fostered communal harmony, Muslim brethren in Ullal distributed fruit juice to Hindus who were celebrating the annual festival at Sri Ullalthi Dharma Arasara Temple, Uliya in Ullal; apart from distributing juice, they also extended festive wishes.

Hindus were celebrating Prathishte – Brahmakalashotsava and Dharma Nadavali Mahotsava at Sri Ullalthi Dharma Arasara Temple, one of the prominent Hindu shrines in the region.

The initiative to distribute fruit juice to the Hindu community was taken by the management committee of Sayyid Madani Ullal Darga, one of the famous Muslim shrines of South India. Another prominent name behind the initiative was U T Khader, state Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, as he hails from the area and Ullal comes under his constituency – Mangaluru.

The initiative was lauded by the general public as well as the police department.

Delighted by the move, Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) M Sanjeev Patil posted pictures of Muslims distributing fruit juice to Hindu devotees at the temple premises. He also said that better days of Hindu-Muslim unity were there.