Mangaluru: Karnataka Christian Educational Society, Interfaith Coalition for Peace and Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy jointly organised ‘Saamarasya 2016’, at KACES Grounds near Balmatta here, on January 30.
Chief Guest Oekuminische Pfarrerinnen und Pfarrerhilfe, Germany, Dekan Bernd Liebendoerfer inaugurated the programme by releasing Tri-coloured balloons.
Speaking on this occasion, Dekan said, “This festival of peace celebrates life in different cultures and colours and to celebrate life is very important.” He said that we should live in peace not because it is comfortable, but because God wanted us to live in peace. It wasn’t easy to do so when there were differences in culture, religion and philosophy. “Differences are great, but they create problems. We have to strive for tolerance. This festival is a demonstration of culture and diversity, each having it’s own beauty,” he said.
Dekan said that there were questions of true God and true religion, but we had to seek the answers by living together. “Germany is not a society of different culture, but we tried living together 50 years back. Last year the effort reached a new level as we accepted refugees who make up to 2% of our population now. In India, you are accustomed to such diversity and we have a lot to learn from you,” he added.
Board Member, Pfarrerinnen, Germany, Paul Brauchle said that Germany had a complete different culture. He later gave the best wishes for the programme on behalf of 2 million protestants from his church in Rotenberg.
Member of Red Camel, Khalil Ibrahim said that harmony among people belonging to different religions. “In the society where violence and terror head increased, the principles we can learn from Vasudaiva Kutumbakam are important. If the Caliph of ISIS had actually followed the teachings of Prophet Mohammed, he would know that he is not fit to be a Caliph,” he said. He also gave excerpts from Hinduism, Islam and Christianity to prove that no religion supported terror.
Principal of KTC and Secretary of KACES, Dr Honey Cabral in his presidential address said, “Art is one of the medium which says we have humanity. We are created by God in the same way and with the same blood. The students at KACES come from various faiths and they have proven that we can live in harmony.”
After the inaugural ceremony, there was a cultural programme by children from various organisation and institutions.
Christina Brauchle,Secretary and Treasurer of Interfaith Coalition for Peace, Dr Packiam Samuel and other dignitaries were also present.
