Catholics in Mumbai, India’s financial capital on the western coast, marked Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 with prayer, a peace procession and Eucharistic adoration, calling for greater commitment to unity, nonviolence and peace in society.
The Small Christian Communities of Our Lady of Salvation Church in Dadar organized the gathering, which brought together about 200 people for a procession and more than 500 faithful for Holy Mass.
The celebration began with the Rosary based on the Beatitudes, with prayers for peace and harmony in families, communities and the world.
Participants then joined a peaceful procession carrying banners and posters promoting peace, unity and communal harmony. They sang “We Shall Overcome Someday” as they walked through the area.
The banners highlighted Mahatma Gandhi’s commitment to peace and harmony, including messages such as, “India became truly special when Bapu gave the call for peace and harmony!” and “Bapuji had just one dream: Our India to be happy and prosperous.”
The procession was followed by Holy Mass, with Fr. Michael Pinto, parish priest, as the main celebrant.
In his homily, Fr. Pinto said peace should be expressed through daily actions rather than remain an ideal.
“Where Christ is, there is peace. We do not just have to speak about peace; we have to be instruments of peace,” he said.
He encouraged the faithful to bring peace into their homes, parish communities and wider society, reminding them that each person is called to become a bearer of peace. He also stressed the need for peace in India amid continuing social challenges.
After Mass, members of the parish Steering Committee led Eucharistic adoration, during which the community reflected on truth, peace and nonviolence associated with Gandhi’s life and teaching.
Participants placed their prayers and intentions before Christ and took an oath committing themselves to becoming instruments of peace in their daily lives.
Yvonne Rodrigues said she was moved by seeing people from different communities gather in prayer and solidarity. She expressed hope that similar initiatives would encourage people to make peace part of their everyday lives.
Elvira Cardoz described the celebration as a grace-filled experience, saying the Eucharistic adoration and reflections on Gandhi’s teachings gave her an opportunity to pause and renew her commitment to becoming an instrument of peace.
Irene and Esubius Rodrigues described the gathering as a meaningful prayer experience, highlighting the Rosary, candlelight procession and community participation.
Gandhi Jayanti is observed annually on October 2 to mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who led India’s independence movement through a commitment to truth and nonviolence. The United Nations also observes October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence.
The Mumbai celebration connected these values with Christian prayer and Eucharistic faith, emphasizing that peace begins in the human heart and grows through prayer, love, understanding and compassionate action.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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