Baha'is around the world host interfaith prayers for peace
UNITED NATIONS, 17 September 2000 (BWNS) -- Baha'is around the world --
from Côte d'Ivoire to Uruguay, from Thailand to the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands -- hosted interfaith prayer gatherings in their homes, schools and
community centers to mark the opening of the Millennium World Peace Summit
of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, which was held at the United Nations
28-29 August 2000.
The prayers came in response to a call, issued on 3 August 2000, for
people everywhere to observe a Day of Prayer for World Peace on the
Summit's opening day. The Summit brought together more than 1,000
spiritual and religious leaders representing every major world religion
in an effort to "forge a partnership of peace."
Among the local and national events hosted by Baha'is in support of the
Summit were:
-- The Baha'is of Dominica hosted a prayer gathering in an auditorium at
the University of West Indies Centre in Roseau. Prayers from 13 of the
religions represented at the Summit were read, and the program closed
with a quotation from "The Promise of World Peace," a statement to the
peoples of the world issued in 1985 by the Universal House of Justice,
the international governing council of the Baha'i Faith.
-- In Mauritius, the National Spiritual Assembly invited representatives
of the Christian, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu communities to a prayer
gathering at the Baha'i Institute in Belle Rose. The event was covered
by the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation radio and television services.
"Some 50 persons fervently joined in with their prayers in a spiritual
surge for the establishment of world peace," the Assembly reported.
-- In Ireland, representatives of several of the world’s major faiths
gathered at the Baha'i Centre in Dublin, Ireland, on 28 August to
participate in a devotional program of extracts from Baha'i, Christian,
Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic, Zoroastrian and Sikh sacred texts.
Each guest was presented with a flower blossom on arrival. After
devotions and music, tea was served and the representatives of the
various religions learned about each other's faiths and traditions in an
atmosphere of goodwill. Irish Baha'is sponsored similar events in Cavan,
Fingal (a suburb of Dublin), Co. Sligo, Shannon and Waterford.
-- In Côte d'Ivoire, the Baha'is of Abidjan and Dabou invited
Animist, Jewish, Catholic and Muslim representatives to pray for peace
at the Cocody Baha'i Center on 28 August 2000. The Ministry of
Communication sent a representative. The invitation to the event was
broadcast on the national radio, on the national television evening
news, and in four articles in the main national newspapers. There were
readings from the Old Testament, the Bible, the Koran and the Baha'i
scriptures, followed by statements on world peace by the various
religious representatives. Two major newspapers sent journalists to the
event, and the following day the national radio broadcast an interview
with the Baha'i, Christian and Muslim representatives. Similar events
were held in Danané, in Bouaké, where two Imams came and the local
television filmed the meeting, and in Ferke, where the Baha'is arranged
a one-hour program on the local radio.
-- In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Baha'is held a devotional
gathering at the Baha'i community center in Port Blair, and invited
representatives of the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh
communities to chant and recite prayers for world peace. About 60 people
attended, and the event was covered by local newspapers and announced on
the local bulletin of All India Radio.
-- In Thailand, the Santitham School, a Baha'i-run primary school in
Yasothon, held a gathering of about 250 students, teachers and staff to
pray for world peace on 31 August 2000. Three Buddhist monks, two
Muslim representatives and three Catholic nuns were invited to share
their prayers with the students. The Provincial Education Officer and
the director of the District Education Office also attended. The
Buddhist monks prayed in Bali for compassion toward all mankind and all
living beings, and the Catholic nuns prayed that all mankind be
safeguarded by the love of God. Several students recited Baha'i prayers
for the unity of mankind. Local radio and television stations covered
the event.
-- In India, the State Baha'i Council of Sikkim organised a prayer
gathering at the Hotel Rendezvous in Gangtok on August 28. Although
they had only four days to organise the event, the Baha'is sent out more
than 100 invitations to dignitaries and religious leaders. Nearly
everyone agreed to participate. The Governor of Sikkim, Choudhary
Randhir Singh, attended along with representatives of the Hindu,
Buddhist, Christian, Sikh, and Jain communities. News of the gathering
was carried on the Sikkim cable television and several local and
regional newspapers.
Other prayer gatherings were held at the Baha'i House of Worship in
Panama City, Panama, at the Baha'i Centre in Luanda, Angola, and at the
Baha'i Center in Montevideo, Uruguay.
UN-GF-000917-1-PRAYERS-63-S
©Copyright 2000, Baha'i World News Service
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