Faith and Harmony Festival 2025

An Inter-faith, inter-cultural event to promote social harmony and community cohesion.

Bristol Multi Faith Forum is organizing ‘the Faith and Harmony Festival’ on Saturday, 15th of March 2025 from 5 pm to 7 pm at Baileys Court Activity Centre (Baileys Court Road, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, BS32 8BH). This community event is organised on behalf of the South Gloucestershire Council with the support of the Southern Brooks Community Partnership, to promote inter-faith community cohesion and inter-cultural social harmony and to bring people from all walks of life together.

The programme includes inspiring talks, cultural entertainment, and ethnic food. Various dignitaries, civic officials, religious and community leaders, and artists are attending the event. We will be commemorating diverse religious festivals of various religious communities during this season such as the Lent, Ramadan, Holi, Bahai Nav-Ruz, Eid, Vaishaki, Passover and Easter jointly at this gathering, as well as we will be celebrating our cultural diversity. We celebrate inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for all residents, from the traditional inhabitants of the land to those who have come from many countries around the world. This Harmony Festival is also held to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination which is observed annually on 21 March since declared by the United Nations in 1966. The Harmony Festival organised under the auspices of the Bristol Multi-Faith Forum promotes social communication, meaningful conversations, the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect. All residents are invited to enjoy the Harmony Festival and the ethnic food we prepared beforehand for the event. Please register in advance to get a free ticket. Last date of registration is the 12th of March.

Vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisine options are available. We would be grateful if you could please register your names with your dietary choice via email info@bristolmultifaithforum.org.uk, at least by the 12th of March 2025. Please book your seats soon . Right of admission is reserved.

Look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.

Kind regards

Cllr Tom Aditya (Chairman),

Tripti Megeri (Secretary)

Bristol Multi-Faith Forum, 43 Ducie Road, Barton Hill, Bristol, BS5 0AX
Email: info@bristolmultifaithforum.org.uk
www.bristolmultifaithforum.org.uk

Principle of equality

The United Nations General Assembly reiterates that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies. In its most recent resolution, the General Assembly also emphasized that any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous and must be rejected, together with theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human races.

The United Nations has been concerned with this issue since its foundation and the prohibition of racial discrimination is enshrined in all core international human rights instruments. It places obligations on States and tasks them with eradicating discrimination in the public and private spheres. The principle of equality also requires States to adopt special measures to eliminate conditions that cause or help to perpetuate racial discrimination.

Author: Tom Aditya

Mayor Emeritus, Councillor Tom Aditya is an elected civic representative, a member of the UK Police Scrutiny Panel, a social justice advocate, and a management consultant in the United Kingdom. He is the first person of Indian origin to be elected Mayor in South West England, the first person of South-Indian origin outside the London metro region elected Councillor in the UK and the first South Indian elected in the UK on the Conservative party ticket, and the first person of Asian and Indian heritage to be elected to a civic office in South Gloucestershire county. Since 2007, he has been part of the South Glos Council's Equalities Panel. He has also been serving as the Chairman of the ‘Bristol Multi-Faith Forum’, which is the Bristol City Council’s initiative for social harmony and community well-being. Besides that, Cllr Tom is the Chair of the South Glos Council's Community Engagement Forums Chairs Network, as well as a Member of the Bristol University Court, and the Police Strategic Advisory Panel, which covers Greater Bristol and West of England counties. In his civic roles, Tom Aditya served as Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Council Spokesperson, Chairman of the Finance Committee, Planning and Environment Committee, Staffing Committee, Leisure, Youth & Amenities Committee, International Twinnings Committee, etc. Tom also acts as a speaker, policymaker, and entrepreneur.

Leave a Reply