Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Mar 10: Promoting the spirit of communal harmony, the Mother Teresa Vichara Vedike organised a ‘Souharda Iftar’ gathering on Tuesday, March 10, at Sahodaya Hall, St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Baavutagudda.
The event, held during the holy month of Ramadan, aimed to encourage people of different faiths to celebrate festivals together and foster mutual respect.
Sunil Kumar Bajal, general secretary of Mother Teresa Vichara Vedike, welcomed the gathering and highlighted the significance of inter-religious celebrations in strengthening societal unity.
Maulana Y K Abdul Azeez Darimi, religious leader of Mohiyuddin Juma Masjid, Chokkabettu, noted that the gathering reflected the compassion of Mother Teresa. "Love begins at home, and respect in society is earned through one's actions. We must remain gentle in words and merciful in heart," he said, adding that humanity should never be divided.
Pro vice-chancellor of St Aloysius Educational Institutions, Dr Melwyn D’Cunha, compared human life to rivers that flow from different sources toward various destinations but always move forward. He lauded the Vedike for its eight-year commitment to peace despite global conflicts.
Writer and retired teacher B M Rohini urged individuals to engage in self-reflection to better society. K Ashraf, vice-president of Zeenath Baksh Juma Masjid, Baavutagudda, and Stany Alvares, president of Konkani Sahitya Academy, emphasised that the "religion of humanity" should supersede all divisions.
Sr Rose Celine, Generalite of the Bethany Congregation, narrated a moral story on unity, stating that the common thread connecting everyone is the shared experience of love and compassion.
Presiding over the programme, Roy Castelino, president of Mother Teresa Vichara Vedike, stressed that celebrating festivals like Iftar together helps people understand diverse traditions. He noted that recognising these differences is key to national peace.
The dignitaries on the dais also included Manjula Nayak, president of Samrasya. The programme was emceed by Raymond Kunjattabail and concluded with the traditional Iftar meal.