By Tenzin Sangmo
New Delhi, August 30 – As part of the 12 hour allegorical fasting by international communities across the world, Tibetans and Tibet support groups in Delhi participated in the program initiated by the Tibetan Solidarity Committee August 30, which marked the last day of the sixth month of Earth-Mouse year in the Tibetan calendar. The day long fast began at 7 am, followed by prayer sessions and religious sermons.
According to the Committee, “This symbolic fasting is done in order to purify one self from negative actions and to accumulate good karma, to stress the non-violent perseverance in struggle for the ideals of freedom, justice, democracy, freedom of expression and for transparent political order for the whole world, Tibetan and Chinese people in particular.”
Religious figures gracing the function with their presence included Pastor Motilal from the Christian Community, Bante Vishwa Bandhu from Theravat Buddhist School, Jasbir Kaur representing the Sikh faith, Indu Jain on behalf of the Jains, Pandit Ram Bhagat from the Hindu Community and President of the Jama Masjid United Forum Syed Yahya Bukhari
Other well-known guests in attendance were the familiar faces of Vijay Kranti, Editor of Tibbat Desh and prominent journalist, N.K. Trikha, National Convener of the Core Group for Tibet, Bashist Narain Singh, MP and Convener of the All Party Parliamentary Forum for Tibet, Rajiv and Neeru Vora, prominent Gandhians, Neera Shastri, Vice President, BJP, Delhi State and daughter in law of Ex-Prime Minister of India Lal Bahadur Shastri.
An ailing George Fernandes, former Defence Minister of India and Member of Parliament expressed regret at his inability to join the fast due to health reasons but nevertheless hoped that a day of quiet introspection would make people realize that peace in the world can be achieved only from the minds and bodies of each individual. “I hope today’s collective fasting and praying will suitably express that struggle for justice, peace and good will among all sentient beings,” he further added in his statement.
Messengers of peace were sent to various religious establishments in the City. Representatives were divided into three groups who then set forth on their mission to spread the message of love, harmony, inter-faith reverence and peace to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, St. Columbus Church, Bodh Vihar Buddhist Temple, Birla Mandir, Jain Mandir, Jama Masjid, Jewish Synagogue, ISKCON Temple and Lotus Temple.
