India: 7 faith traditions celebrate feasts to foster inter-religious dialogue

Followers of seven faith traditions converged on the Pilar hillock to celebrate their respective festivals on 3 May 2025 at the Pilar Pilgrim Centre, Pilar, Goa, western India.

“Sneh Sangam” (confluence of love), a unique interreligious program to celebrate the festivals of different religions, was conceptualized by “Sadbha’v, an endeavor of the Pilar Pilgrim Centre, Society of Pilar, to foster interreligious dialogue and solidarity.

The day was filled with sharing about the festivals, prayers, cultural celebrations, and a fellowship meal featuring festival-related foods. We began the day by welcoming the participants with kokum sharbat.

Capt. Jehangir Talyerkhan, an experienced master mariner and a member of the Parsi community in Goa, spoke about Nowruz, which was celebrated on 20 March. Shireen Sidhwa then led the Ashem Vohu and Yatha Ahu Vairyo prayer, invoking the blessing of Ahura Mazda, the supreme God of the Zoroastrians.

Altaf Shah, administrator of ‘Aashiyan, a charitable institution supporting poor and orphan girls, spoke about the festival of Eid-Ul-Fitr, which was celebrated on March 31. Rehan Ali, a member of the Students Islamic Organizations of India, led a prayer for healing, sadbhav, and Sneha.

Vedamurti Dnyaneshwar Patil, acting principal of Swami Brahmanand Mahavidyalaya Tapobhoomi Kundaim Ponda-Goa, shared on the festival of Rama Navami, which was celebrated on 6 April. This was followed by a recitation of 'Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah,' the Vedic Mantra from the Rig Veda, by the students from Swami Brahmanand Mahavidyalaya.

Rajesh Chheda, a member of the Jain community, born and brought up in Goa, and a CA by profession, spoke on Mahavir Jayanthi, celebrated on 10 April. This was followed by the recitation of the Namokar Mantra by Kalpana Shah, president of Goa Jain Samaj, and Jayshree Patil.

The festival of Vaisakhi, celebrated by the Sikh community on 13 April, was also part of the festivities. Harpreet Singh, who is actively involved in the religious bodies across India, spoke about Vaisakhi and later recited the Mool Mantra of the Sikh faith. His talk was followed by sharing on the festival of Easter by Joseph Marcel Fernandes, a former MBA professor at Christ University, Bangalore. The prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, Make me a channel of your peace, was sung by Fr. Peter Soares, a veteran missionary in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Kelina Chakma, a member of the Buddhist faith, spoke about Buddha Purnima, which will be celebrated on 12 May. Rupashi Chakma, a graduate of Delhi University, recited the Aham avero homi, the traditional Buddhist blessings and best wishes for the well-being and happiness of all beings.

At the outset of the program, Fr. Lawrence Fernandes, the director of the Pilar Pilgrim Center, welcomed the gathering; Tallulah D’Silva introduced the program; and Fr. Joseph Caji Barreto led a tribute to Pope Francis, an ardent advocate of universal brotherhood, harmony, and peace.

The program ended with a short cultural program with a song, Yeh Pyar ki Lehre, sung by Fr. Elvis Fernandes, the convenor of Sadbhav, and accompanied by Tabla Maestro Prathamesh Chari. Later, Prof. Resham Bhamra presented a poem, while Rooshad Patel spoke about the concept of happiness through the teachings of Zarathustra.

The program was compared by Elaine Coelho and Vansh Naik. Sahil Awasthi proposed the vote of thanks. Asim Shaikh, a member of Sadbhav's core team, oversaw the festive lunch, which all the participants joined in the end. - Elvis Fernandes