Aiming to Spread Love & Peace in Society MLC Ivan D’Souza hosts 3rd ‘All Religion Diwali Sangama’
- With an Aim to Spread Love & Peace in Society MLC Ivan D’souza hosts ‘All Religion Diwali Sangama’ on Tuesday, 6 November 2018 at Kudmal ranga Rao Purabhavana (Town Hall)
Mangaluru: After hosting “Iftar Party Souhardha” and also Christmas Souhardha’ with an intention to bring love, peace and harmony in the Society, MLC Ivan D’Souza initiated Diwali celebrations in unique way with the combination of all religion. The Souharda or friendliness is not just a message it has to be adopted in our everyday life. It was indeed a unique Diwali Celebrations, where all religions celebrated the festival of lights together. This is the Third “All Religion Diwali Sangama” hosted by Ivan D’souza, and he was commended by everyone for his initiative every year in hosting “Souhardha” during Ramadan and Christmas- and now during the festival of lights-Diwali!
Some holidays remind us of the values that unite humanity, and the annual Diwali Festival is one of them. Though the holiday has many interpretations, the core message is the victory of good over evil. Hindus light rows of clay lamps to celebrate the story of King Rama’s return to Ayodhya after he defeated Ravana. As seen in the Indian example, many faiths come together to celebrate Diwali for many reasons, but the common theme unites them all. In today’s complex world, the need to accommodate diversity and find common ground is as relevant as ever. The display of lights and colorful Goodu Deepas outside Town Hall-Mangaluru has been designed to reflect “a highly inclusive, all-welcoming celebration of peace and harmony,” and that Diwali reminds us “to keep improving spiritually in this lifetime — through unity in thought, word and deed.
This celebration at Town Hall on 6 November, was attended by politicians/friends/well-wishers and many others who were on Ivan D’souza’s guest list- and to name a few- Former Minister Ramanath Rai; Ex-MLA Moideen Bawa; MCC Mayor Bhasker K; MLA Vedvyas Kamath; Rev Fr Mohan Manoraj- Pastor, CSI Church; K S Mohammed Masood- President, Muslim Central committee; Deputy Mayor Mohammed Kunjathbail; Dilraj Alva- President, DKBus City Bus Owners Association; Corporator Naveen D’souza; Sashidhar Hegde- Former Mayor; Anil Lobo- President, MCC Bank; among many others.
While welcoming each of his guest with a memento and a bag of Sweet Goodies, MLC Ivan D’souza beaming with joy and pride said, ” I feel blessed to host this Diwali Souhardha with people of all religion with a aim to bring peace, love, friendship and harmony between Hindus and other religious folks. We should all live in harmony and peace, and never give a chance for hate and communal tensions. Let’s celebrate Diwali with peace and love, that should be our motto. Having hosted this Sangama for the third time, I feel happy to see a huge crowd gathered here, and let’s all look forward to mark this festival season with love, peace and harmony in the community”.
The celebration was inaugurated by lighting of the lamp by Vedamurthy Shri Anantha Padmanabha Asranna- Seer of Kateel Temple, along with all the dignitaries on the dais. In his inaugural address complimenting MLC Ivan D’souza for his kind gesture in hosting this unique Diwali get-together with people of different faith, Seer Vedamurthy said,” Deepavali is a festival of lights and togetherness. It’s the festival of unity without any caste and religious differentiations. As a lamp spreads light equally to everyone, so we must also love everyone equally. All religions teach us to be united let us become light of love and prosperity. We need to celebrate Deepavali in such a way that it will instigate to spread peace and love in the society. We need to applaud Ivan D’souza for his initiative in organizing this Souhardha in order to bring peace, love and harmony in the society”.
MLA Vedvyas Kamath addressing the gathering said, ” We should all work in unity to maintain peace and harmony- in the eyes of God we are all equal and we should never incite communal riots and hatred among different faiths. DK is a peace-loving district, and people are not looking for any trouble any communal disharmony. But there are a few elements who want to break peace and harmony among the communities, thereby creating tension in the society. We need to stay away from such people. Today this programme highlighting harmony during Diwali has brought us altogether irrespective of religions. So during this Diwali season let us spread the message to love another and maintain peace throughout. Let the light of Diwali shine upon us and take away the darkness and give us peace and prosperity. I am grateful to Ivan for his kind gesture in inviting me for this function, and my sincere compliments to Ivan Him for his efforts in hosting this get-together of all faith to bring peace in the community”.
Former Minister Ramanath Rai who arrived late, after inaugurating the Goodudeepa Display speaking during the occasion said, “Diwali is the celebration of the victory of truth over oppression. Diwali gives us the message of love, peace and harmony. It calls upon us to set aside differences and work together to make the community that we live in, a peaceful one. Diwali is the celebration of peace. The day calls upon us to stand against hate, jealousness, communal disharmony etc. Diwali is a great unifying force and it can soften even the hardest of hearts. It is a time when you will find people mingling about in joy and embracing one another with love. The vibrations produced by the greetings of love, which fill the atmosphere, are powerful. When the heart has considerably hardened, only a continuous celebration of Deepavali can rekindle the urgent need of turning away from the ruinous path of hatred. The lights of Diwali also signify a time of inner illumination. Hindus believe that the light of lights is the one that steadily shines in the chamber of the heart. Sitting quietly and fixing the mind on this supreme light illuminates the soul. It is an opportunity to cultivate and enjoy eternal bliss.”
A few other dignitaries on the dais also spoke and exchanged the greetings and love of Diwali. The celebration also comprised of drawing competition and Elocution Competition on Diwali theme- and prizes were distributed to the winners. An amount of Rs four lakhs was split between four differently-abled persons- and cheques of Rs one lakh each were handed over to them. Also, 500 bags of each 5 kgs rice were also distributed to the poor during the occasion. The programme was compered The formal function ended with an array of cultural events, including dance, music etc. There was a comedy act by the artistes of “Bale Telipile” fame. The programme began with the Nada Geethe. On the occasion, World Famous Saxophonist Machendranath Mangaladevi was felicitated.