Mohammed Hanif Mallik, a 70-year-old retired schoolteacher from Ahmedpur in Birbhum, received Bhai Phonta on Tuesday for the first time in his life.

Nurul Islam Sheikh, a teacher and secretary of the Al-Ameen Mission School in Labhpur’s Chowhatta, blessed Kasturi Mukherjee Chatterjee, the officer-in-charge of Santiniketan police station, after she gave him Bhai Phonta.

Mallik and Sheikh are among scores of Muslims who received Bhai Phonta for the first time in their lives. It was done at a programme organised jointly by Bolpur Citizens Forum and Satighat Unnayan Committee in the Nichupatty area of the town.

Bhai Phonta is a Hindu ritual — popular in Bengal — in which sisters put sandalwood paste on the forehead of their brothers, wishing them long lives. An exchange of gifts, besides a festive meal, follows. The festival is similar to Bhai Dooj of north India and Yam Dwitiya of south India.

“We planned this programme to spread the message of harmony over Bhai Phonta at a time divisive politics is trying to overpower us. We are grateful to our Muslim brethren who responded enthusiastically and participated in the programme,” said Manabendra Bhowmik, an advocate and the president of the Bolpur Citizens Forum.The organisers said they had invited around 150 people, including many Muslims, to send the message of harmony. Most of the invitees attended the programme.

“I had always heard about Bhai Phonta and saw my colleagues in school to go to their sisters’ homes on this day. I never thought I will be given Bhai Phonta. I attended this programme because I think such celebrations should be organised jointly. Every such occasion should be celebrated together,” said Mallik.

Echoing Mallik, Sheikh said the experience was “truly amazing”. “It will be a memory for me to cherish.”After the Bhai Phonta ritual, the “brothers” were given sweets by their sisters.“I have been away from home and missing the festival. After I attended the programme here, I got a different taste of Bhai Phonta. It is really a nice initiative,” said officer-in-charge Kasturi who gave phonta to “over a dozen brothers” at the event.

Mohit Saha, a physician working at Visva-Bharati and secretary of the Bolpur Citizens Forum, said the message of brotherhood was their top priority. “It is our culture. Festivals are beyond religion. Today, we proved it once again,” said Saha.