Married for 27 years, they don’t differentiate religions
Naeem Siddiqui is a Muslim who religiously fasts during the holy month of Ramadan and marks all Eids, but in his household — where his wife Sabina is a Punjabi Hindu by birth — they celebrate not just Diwali but all the other special days in the calendar.
They have been married for the last 27 years, and they have two children, Naved and Nikhat, who were both born and raised in Dubai.
Siddiqui said: “We used to live opposite each other’s buildings in Lokhandwala, Maharashtra. We fell in love and got married.
“Since then, we have been celebrating all Muslim and Hindu festivals,” said Naeem, the managing director of Strings International.
“We celebrate not just Diwali but also Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, Dussehra, Christmas, everything. We inculcate the same principles to our children as well. I believe God is everywhere.” For Diwali, the Siddiqui family, who have been in the UAE for 19 years, never fails to celebrate with their friends and company staff from different nationalities.
Sabina said: “We have puja in the office, as well as at home. We don’t go home to India for Diwali. We celebrate with friends and office staff from different nationalities, including Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. We have lunch or snacks and tea with them after the puja.”
The couple said: “Dubai is a wonderful place, and we are very grateful to the government for giving us the facilities to enjoy our festivals.”
Each occasion may be celebrated in various ways, but in celebrating each of them, one thing remains constant for the family — love.