By Matters India Reporter
Kolkata, Sept 22, 2024: The city of Kolkata witnessed confluence of faiths, values, and collective harmony on September 22, the International Day of Peace.
The program was organized by the Sadhu Vaswani Centre, Kolkata in association with the United Interfaith Foundation – India.
It “brought together spiritual leaders, thinkers, and people from various religious communities to share in a message of unity, peace, and spiritual growth,” said Father Francis Sunil Rosario, regional secretary of the Commission for Migration under the Conference of Catholic Bishops in India, one of the organizers.
The event this year at GD Birla Sabhaghar coincided with the International Day of Peace — a day recognized globally for promoting peace among nations, cultures, and religions.
The program’s central theme was “that peace is not merely an abstract concept but a reality we must actively work to cultivate, starting from within ourselves and extending to the world around us.”
At an interfaith prayer, representatives from diverse faith traditions lit lamps in a symbolic act of shared light and hope.
Father Rosaria said each flame signified the collective will to foster peace, tolerance, and respect among different communities. “This act, underscored by the age-old practice of lighting candles or lamps in religious ceremonies, reminded everyone of the power of light over darkness, symbolizing unity amid diversity,” he added.
Didi Krishna, head of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission, led a session on “Design Your Destiny.”
She said, “Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is something we design with the clarity of purpose and the purity of heart. Let us all, from various walks of life and faith, walk together in this journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Together, we can create a harmonious world where differences are celebrated, not feared.”
Leaders who attended the program included Archbishop Thomas D’Souza of Calcutta, Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, general secretary of the United Interfaith Foundation India, Swami Suparnananda, secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark.
Also present were Divakar Chaitanya, head of Chinmaya Mission Kolkata, Sister Asmita of the Brahmakumaris, Moulana Syed Zaki Hasan Rizvi, Imam Juma Shia Jama Masjid Kolkata, Swami Surjyagiri Maharaj, Gangasagar Math, Ervard Jimmy Taraporwalla, priest of the Parsee Fire Temple.
Others were L Ramaswamy, executive trustee, Vedanta Institute Kolkata, Swami Shraddhanand Ji of the Art of Living, Swami Achyutananda Puri, secretary, International Vedanta Society, Buddha Priya Mahathero, general secretary of Bhartiya Sangharaja Bhikku Mahasabha, Father Franklin Menezes, pro vicar of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral, Moulana Syed Ahmed Abbas Rizvi, Imam Cossipore Masjid), Cifu Miaru, president, Buddha Light International Association.
Archbishop D’Souza, in his address, said: “In moments like these, where different faiths come together in prayer, we are reminded of the ultimate truth — that we are all children of the same Divine source. It is in unity that we find our strength, and in our diversity, we find the beauty of humanity. Today, as we mark the International Day of Peace, let us reaffirm our commitment to a world where love and harmony reign.”
Ahluwalia spoke about the need for ongoing interfaith collaboration. “The light we ignite today through these diyas (lamps) is a beacon of hope, showing the world that different religions can coexist in peace and mutual respect.”
Raju Bharat, managing director of Kenilworth Hotel and an organiser, said, “It is our shared responsibility to create a society where every individual can shape their destiny. Today, we witnessed a perfect blend of wisdom, spirituality, and harmony, where every participant, irrespective of their faith, contributed to building bridges of understanding and love.”
The event concluded with the participants joining hands in a prayer for peace, harmony, and brotherhood.
Father Rosario said the collective prayer, held on the International Day of Peace, was “a testimony to the strength of interfaith dialogues and the shared desire for a world where love triumphs over hate and understanding prevails over ignorance.”
Inter-religious gatherings are in great need to build a society of peace and prosperity. Religious wars have caused too much blood bath and destruction, it was mainly due to the distance they kept and the bitterness they nurtured. We are now living in a very dangerous and divided world, it is high time for the religious people to get together and to have mutual respect-interaction-learning and understanding.
Congratulations. Need of the hour