Mangalore: ‘Dharma Samanvaya’ Celebrates Hindu, Christian, Harvest Festivals at One Venue
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)
Mangalore, Sep 14: ‘Habba Sauharda’, a harvest festival, was celebrated by ‘Dharma Samanvaya’, the movement for religious harmony, at the Milagres Jubilee Hall on Sunday September 13, with the participation of various guests and members of different communities.
The programme was organized as an effort at religious harmony with the Hindu harvest festival and the Christian ‘Monti Fest’ blending together here.
Nalin Kumar Kateel, member of parliament, inaugurated the programme by symbolically sharing the festival drink.
Bishop of Mangalore, Fr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, blessed the occasion and said, “Religious harmony is the basis of living in society and the celebration of festivals with all communities joining in helps understand the great values of festivals”.
Fr John Fernandes, chairman, Christianity Chair in Mangalore University and patron of Dharma Samanvaya, said, “Festivals are celebrated based on culture of the land, but the way of celebrating it is different. But harmony among the members of various religions should be maintained”.
M B Abdul Rahiman, chairman, Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy, said, “Religious harmony should be maintained for peace in society. In recent days there has been a threat to religious harmony. It should be corrected and we have to find a solution to the trouble in society and such programmes will create brotherhood among all the religions”.
Dr Vaman Nandavar gave a lecture on the celebration of the harvest festival as per Tulu culture while Concepta Alva presented a similar talk on Monti Fest and Dr D R Sadananda spoke about the harvest festival celebrated in the CSI community.
Dr Vinay Hegde, vice-chancellor, Nitte University, and scholar Yerya Laxminarayana Alva were also present and spoke about the importance of the festivals and the harmony among various religions. Eric Ozario and other organizers of ‘Habba Sauharda’ were also present.
‘Gummatt’ song by Valerian D’Souza and his group and Tulu cultural presentation by Mime Ramdas and group were also held. Shreelatha U A gave the vote of thanks while Manohar Prasad was the master of ceremony.