Mangaluru: In a unique initiative to make Deepavali an all-community/religion festivity, Chief Whip of Legislative Council Ivan D’Souza led a multi-cultural Deepavali celebration at Gorakshanatha Hall in Kadri on Saturday, October 29. Several local beneficiaries were given rice and spectacles while observing the joy of giving as an essence of Deepavali.
Close to seven hundred people were gifted bags of rice and four hundred were gifted spectacles by the dignitaries present at the occasion. The event was also an avenue for elocution, painting and Goodu-Deepa competition where more than 700 entries were received in total.
Speaking to the gathering about the intention of the multi-community Deepavali celebration, Ivan D’Souza said, “For a very long time there had been a strong human bond between the different communities but now we are witnessing a divide. It is important to maintain communal harmony and brotherhood in a secular nation. This celebration is conducted for the sole purpose of reviving the essence of observing Deepavali festival together as one common event beyond religious barriers between us”, he added.
Mangaluru North MLA J R Lobo said, “We have to see ourselves as one community rather than differentiate between religions. This celebration was conducted to feel the sense of togetherness and experience how we can actually forget our differences and be together.”
Kadri Yogeeshwara Matt priests Sri Sandeep Nath Maharaj and Sri Rajayogi Nirmal Nath Maharaj were welcomed by the organising committee. The seers blessed the occasion and congratulated Ivan D’Souza for his initiative in bridging the gap between communities.
Karnataka Imam Council Convenor Maulana Zaafar Saadique Faizi and one of the top Catholic priests of Mangaluru, Rev Fr Clifford Fernandes spread the message on communal harmony and how people are not different from each other.
