Bharati Ayyappan is in Hira Masjid; this is the real 'Kerala story' 

KOCHI: Bharati Ayyappan will reach Hira Masjid in Sreemoolanagaram Aluva on Friday morning. She prays from the front and goes inside after that.

73-year-old Bharati has been cleaning the mosque and its premises for the past 20 years. The people in charge of the mosque and the devotees who come there are like relatives ​​to Bharati and she is like a mother to them.

When the 'Love Jihad'-themed film The Kerala Story creates controversy, locals say that Hira Masjid and Bharati is the real Kerala story.

Bharati's life revolves around this mosque. She sweeps the courtyard and cleans the inside of the mosque twice a week. The service is not done expecting money and she never requested it either. When the mosque service is over, one by one the people give money to Bharti. She holds it tightly and leaves for her house near the mosque. Before leaving also, she will pray for a moment in front of the mosque. On Saturdays she goes to four temples near her house.

TK Yusuf, who was the former in-charge of the mosque, is the one who asked Bharati if she could clean the mosque. She agreed without even asking for wages. The job in the mosque was greatly helpful for Bharati, whose husband died 25 years ago.

She was able to look after the house and bring up her sons Velayudhan and Shaji. Bharati will say that this job is a great blessing in her life and she will be here as long as possible. Bharati would often say that it is not caste and religion that are important but the closeness of mind between people. She was honored in the mosque during the last festival.

Everyone here is my children. They give so much love. I feel free to ask for anything.
-Bharati Ayyappan

Bharati Chechi is like our mother or sister. Bharati Chechi gives the answer to some wrong messages that are being spread in society now. We are holding Bharti Chechi tightly because of our heartfelt relationship with her.
-PI Samad
Vice Chairman
Hira Trust