This coverage is of UK’s community TV Station Sangat Television.
Click to watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9t4ogUwZdA
The “Unity of Faiths” Festival was held recently in London. During this Inter-faith festival, representatives of many faiths and youngsters of a Gatka Akhara expressed their views on Unity and how to promote Inter-faith dialogues between different communities.
We should hold more of such festivals everywhere in light of the recent shootings at a Sikh place of Worship in US. This shall build bridges across the people of all faiths & no-faiths.
The largest open air Inter-faith festival in London “The aim was pure and simple; bringing together all communities to live in peace and harmony.”
Some of the key people who expressed their views:
1. Cllr Richard Barnes – Deputy Major of London
2. Rev Canon Andrew Tremlett – Westminster Abbey
3. Dr Onkar Sahota – London Assembly Member for Ealing & Hillingdon
4. Yasmin Sheikh MBE – Founder British Community Honours Awards
5. Imam Bismillah – Central Jamia Mosque, Southall
6. Giani Shamsher Singh – Granthi, Sikh Minister of Religion
7. Pavnish Kaur, Ram Kaur, Saprina Kaur, Sukhvir Singh & Navraj Singh – Sahibzada Baba Ajit Singh Gatka Akhara, Southall
8. Harbans Virdee – Namo Buddhay Vihara, Southall
9. Guatam Chakrovarty – Federation of Ambedkrite and Buddhist Organisations
The festival had its début last year on the 11th June 2011, in Southall Park, Ealing Borough, West London. It was attended by over 8,000 people and was watched on-line by 76,000 people from 23 countries.
The festival was opened by 12 multi-faith leaders; followed by various cultural acts of art, poetry, comedy, music and dance.
These acts not only entertained the crowds who joined in, but really promoted the sense of togetherness and community spirit that uplifts and unites any society.
This event enhanced the union of faiths and cultures and played a major role in Southall not being targeted 2 months later during the London Riots. The festival was mentioned and also praised by the British Prime Minister, Hon’ble David Cameron in the House of Commons at the time of the riots.
Religious leaders of the well-known faiths in Southall (Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Ba’hai, Muslim and Zoroastrian) all contributed by sharing their messages, declaring that each religion recognises that “God is Love, Love is God” and also pointing to the “Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man.
This year’s event took take place on Sunday, 8th July 2012 and was attend by over 25,000. The organisers introduced various different areas for the public to engage and interact through various zones – Education Zone, Interactive Zone, Faith Zone and Kids Zone.
This coverage is of UK’s community TV Station Sangat Television.
This programme was aired on 10th of August 2012.
Click to watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9t4ogUwZdA
Pritpal Singh, the Dutch Sikh, Southall, UK
