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SPECIAL FEATURE JANUARY 27, 2023 | The Indian Eye 38

Interfaith Harmony Day

On December 20, 2022, leaders of various faiths gathered of different faiths gathered at a recent conference in the world is one nest.’ Bhagwan Swaminarayan revealed
for interfaith dialogue honoring Pramukh Swami US, marking an important step in inter-faith dialogue the idea of universal harmony by creating a society that
Maharaj’s spiritually driven vision for human solidarity, within North America. In May 2022, 90 religious leaders transcended caste, creed, and religion. Pramukh Swami
world peace, and inter-faith harmony. The event was from 35 countries, including representatives from BAPS, Maharaj not only believed in harmony, he lived it and
held in the presence of tens of thousands at Pramukh convened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. inspired others to live it.
Swami Maharaj Nagar in Ahmedabad in celebration of Today’s inter-faith program commemorates Pramukh “Mahant Swami speaks little but his energies touch
United Nations International Human Solidarity Day. Swami Maharaj’s lifelong efforts to create a harmonious everybody. God believes in harmony on this earth
Pramukh Swami Maharaj worked tirelessly to engage world in which all faiths can peacefully coexist. whether we do or not. Very often Mahant Swami says
with people and leaders of all faiths, championing peace Elaborating on Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s message of our choice is whether to flourish in harmony or perish in
over conflict, dialogue over discord, love over hatred. He inter-faith harmony, Brahmaviharidas Swami, a BAPS disarray. If you abuse religion, it is the greatest problem.
respected people of all religions and faiths. His address swami said, “The most important need of the hour If you use religion, it is the greatest solution. Everyone
at the Millennium World Peace Summit at The United is harmony. As we celebrate this day of solidarity, the should use religion to increase peace on our planet.”
Nations in 2000 is a testament to this fact. place of this gathering is apt since this place celebrating On this special day, many religious leaders from different
Continuing Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s legacy, BAPS Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the greatest Saint of the parts of the world came together to pay homage to
is an active participant in global inter-faith initiatives. century who bridged minds and hearts across the world, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, who was to them the epitome
Recently, BAPS participated in the G20 Religion has been created by 80,000 volunteers working together. of saintliness. They reflected on his tireless efforts for
Forum, also known as R20, hosted in Indonesia on 2-3 “The idea of harmony is bigger than all of us. We believe inter-faith harmony and world peace.
November 2022. Earlier this year, 1,000 representatives that ‘the whole world is one family’ and ‘the whole

Pujya Sri Satguru Uday Singh Ji Bawa Jain Saadiqual-eidiz-zahabi Bhaisaheb
Maharaj Secretary General, World Council of Jamaluddin
Namdhari Sikh Head Religious Leaders, USA Dawoodi Bohra Community
“Pramukh Swami Maharaj served everyone and “In the three days I have been at Pramukh Swami “My Daudi Bohra brothers and I went around the
showered his blessings on everyone, no matter Maharaj Nagar, half a million people have visited, Nagar for two hours with awe and admiration,
their class, caste, gender, race, religion. His but I have not seen a single incident of disharmony. celebrating Pramukh Swami Maharaj, who
teachings should be taught to all children, so that All the big CEOs of the world should bring their spent his life serving and motivating others
they can grow into good humans, and can tolerate teams to learn about harmonious management. to serve. Respected Mahant Swami Maharaj,
the pain and suffering of this world. Without This Nagar is a work of architectural genius. In my you continue this legacy and guide thousands
compassion, there is no religion. Where there is opinion, Pramukh Swami Maharaj is the modern- similarly. As diverse as we may be in our customs,
arrogance, there God is not. So, we should not day Vishwakarma.” traditions, and faiths, we are united in the belief
insult anyone, but respect everyone.” that to uplift yourself you must uplift others.
This is in the essence of celebrating international
human solidarity day.”

Other religious representatives/leaders in • Archbishop Thomas Ignatius Macwan, of the
attendance included: Gandhinagar Archdiocese
• Pujya Parmatmanandji, Founder Acharya, Arsha • Professor Chirapat Prapandvidya, Representative
Vidya Mandir of Rajguru (Royal Court Priest) of Thailand,
• Mahamandaleshwar Pujya Swami Avdheshanand Founder of Sanskrit Studies Centre at Silpakorn
Giri Ji Maharaj, Acharya Juna Peethadhishwar University, Bangkok
• Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena, Ladakh, Founder • Padma Shri Agus Indra Udayana, Gandhi Puri
President, Mahabodhi International Meditation Ashram, Indonesia
Center • Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar, Head, Jewish
• Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni Ji, Jain Muni, Founder Community
President, Ahimsa Vishwa Bharati • HE Abdul Rahman Bu Ali, Thought Leader of
• Param Gurudev Pujya Namramuni Maharaj Saheb Bahrain
Ji, Jain Muni, Founder, Parasdham

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