A HINDU MUSLIM LOVE STORY & WHY THE ARABIC GANESHA DESIGN WAS TATTOOED
FEATURED TESTIMONIAL
I’m Hindu, my husband is Muslim (A customer’s interfaith love story)
My name is Seema Gupta and my husband’s name is Mohammed Imad Hyder.
We have been together since 2004 and married since 2014. We both grew up in religious families where Allah and Sherawali Mata was part of our lives and still is!
Coming from different faiths did not change our love for each other. Our path together came with many obstacles then and now but we stood and stand tall shoulder to shoulder. As our string became a knot many tried to break it including our immediate families! It was tough to sit on opposite ends with them even when they told us to LEAVE. We refused to leave without their blessing as we knew that life would go nowhere without them. Years passed with anger, depression, and despair!
Our Commitment to each other kept us strong and finally we made it through their hearts. We got married on the day we starting dating. 8am at the marriage bureau, 9am at the Masjid and 10am at the Mandir! In every way, we kept our families proud even with some hesitation in their eyes. Years into marriage we didn’t forget our roots and embraced each other’s culture, traditions and of course faith.
Though at times we were pressured, We did not pressure each other and did what was right! With Gods grace, we gave birth to Sahil Imad Hyder who with innocence, embraced both cultures as well even at the age of 3. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring but today, Having a unique relationship and ongoing obstacles, we balanced our families’ trust, love, and mainly respect.
Why I love this Arabic Ganesh Design & had it tattooed:
The first deity of Hinduism, Lord Ganesh brings me peace and warmth. He gives us the wisdom to move forward with all our decisions in life and so being close to my heart, I wanted to represent Ganesh Ji in a way where I connect to the divine being Allah or Sherwali Mata! The beautiful art piece encouraged me to keep both cultures close to me and a reminder of trust, love, and respect to both of my Roots.
“Through her art, she works for religious, cultural, and ethnic unity. In a world of strife and discrimination, her message is something for all of us to internalize.”
“A Hindu woman that makes Islamic/Arabic Art! WOAH! She is doing her part in this world to bring different people, different religions, different cultures together and uniting/educating people with what we have in common with her art!”
“Your work reveals an incredible intermingling of languages, cultures, religions of the world,
I have never seen anything like it!”
“BEAUTIFUL ART, Coming from a beautiful heart and intention. BHAKTI transcending labels and boundaries”
“SO beautiful and love the thoughtful stories behind each piece”
“Immediately drawn to your concept as I have a mixed family. We’re all just people, more fun to share what unites us and what is unique and beautiful than focus on the negatives”
“Your art is very touching. I was very moved by your calligraphy and combining Hindu and Muslim inspirations in your life. It’s very meaningful to me as a Punjabi, my family has a very interconnected life with Hinduism and Islam while being Sikh in our ancestry. Thank you for your work in this world!”
“A Unique approach to interfaith dialogue. I pray this concept reaches more people and brings more harmony”