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Harmony Buffet 2024

The Bristol Multi-Faith Forum (BMFF) in partnership with the Pakistan Association of Bristol (PAB) and the Indian Community of West of England (ICWE), is arranging a Harmony Summit and a multi-cuisine buffet lunch at Bristol ZaZa Bazaar Restaurant, Harbourside, Bristol (BS1 5UH) on Sunday, 18th of August 2024 from 10.45 am to celebrate the Independence Day festivities of India and Pakistan jointly and to spread the message of community cohesion. August is considered as the South Asian Heritage Month. The programme includes welcome drinks, refreshments, melodic music, diverse cultural programmes, multi-cuisine buffet lunch and inspiring messages from dignitaries. This harmony series is special and unique to Bristol and conveys the message of harmony to the rest of the world.

Bristol Multi-Faith Forum (BMFF) is an equality organisation instituted by the Bristol City Council in 2004 to lead inter-faith community cohesion and inter-cultural social harmony activities in the region and to promote community well-being. BMFF is active as an inter-faith harmony forum in the West of England region. This is the third year, we are organising this India- Pakistan harmony series. Previous years’ harmony events were successful and we received appreciation from all over the UK. Again this year, BMFF provides a platform for both communities in the West of England region to come together and have an India-Pakistan Friendship Meal. In previous years, Bristol Multi-Faith Forum has also been involved in arranging similar events with the Palestinian and Israeli communities and was successful in combating prejudice and spreading the message of harmony.

The India and Pakistan friendship buffet is a symbolic expression of the harmony and friendship that needs to exist between the Indian and Pakistan communities as well as amongst the Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Jain, Bahai, Jewish, Buddhist, Parsi and other humanist faiths. This programme will be attended by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant, the Indian and Pakistani High Commission officials, the Lord Mayor, the High Sheriff, the Metro Mayor, the Police and Crime Commissioner, MPs, the Police Chief, University Vice-Chancellors, Aldermen, councillors, civic officials and community leaders. We thank all the dignitaries, civic officials, and community leaders for confirming attendance.

August 14 marks Pakistan Independence Day and August 15 is Indian Independence Day. Due to the trauma of partition and communal conflicts as well as the history of wars between both countries, there are tensions and misunderstandings between both communities worldwide. We need to alleviate such animosities and divisions amongst both communities at the grassroots level in the West of England region. Through this event, BMFF provides a platform for both Indian and Pakistani communities in the West of England region to meet together, enjoy together and spread the message of peace and harmony.

The venue, Zaza Bazaar Restaurant, Canon’s Road, Bristol (BS1 5UH), is an exciting 1000-seater multi-cuisine buffet restaurant that offers a world of culinary adventure with over 300 dishes across the globe and a wide variety of delicacies from different cuisines, especially from South Asian, Far East, Caribbean, Tex Mex, American and European food habits. You can choose from as many dishes and sweet treat desserts as much as you can enjoy. On Sundays, they have a special extra medley of exclusive ethnic dishes including Biriyani, Dosa, Uttapams, Cholle Poori, kadhi rice, Keema, rasam, all-day English breakfast and Sunday carvery. Also, the specialist chefs will cook the dishes of your liking at the live cooking stations too. There will be music and cultural programmes to enhance the harmonious spirit of the gathering. The welcome drink and refreshments will start at 10.45 am and the cultural activities will finish by 3 pm.

Bristol Multi Faith Forum (BMFF) cordially invites all people of goodwill to join the “Harmony Buffet Lunch” and to herald the message of peace and harmony amongst communities. Right of admission is reserved. BMFF offer this special Sunday Buffet Lunch and Independence Day cultural festivities at a discounted rate of £20 for our prepaid guests. It will be increased to £25 after 31st July. It will be free for children under 5 years of age, whereas children between the ages of 5 and 11 shall pay £10 per head and students with NUS cards (who prepay before 31st July) shall pay only £15 per person. All proceeds from the collection go to ‘Feed the Homeless Initiative’. Please send your names via email to info@bristolmultifaithforum.org.uk, and book your seats before the 31st of July. Limited seats are available, so grab the opportunity to book the seats as soon as possible.

We thank all people of goodwill for joining this friendship initiative and buffet lunch. If you are interested in joining the Harmony Buffet, yet unable to pay even the discounted rate, please email us your name for a free ticket before the 31st of July with a reason for your request, and we will consider that and issue a free ticket to you. Our acknowledgement and gratitude to all. Let’s all be part of the message of harmony and friendship.

With warm regards,

Cllr Tom Aditya
Chairman, Bristol Multi-Faith Forum.

Mohindra Singh Chowdhry, Adv. Tripti Megeri,
Mohammed Arif Khan, Afzal Shah,
Mazhar Iqbal, Mrs Shehnaz Dar.
Facilitators- Harmony Buffet.

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

Faith and Harmony Festival 2024

An Interfaith event to promote social harmony and community cohesion.

Bristol Multi Faith Forum organised ‘the South Glos Faith and Harmony Festival’ on Saturday, 11th of May 2024 at Holy Trinity Hall, Broad Croft, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, BS32 0BD in partnership with the South Gloucestershire Council, the NHS Blood and Transplant and the Southern Brooks Community Partnerships. The event promoted inter-faith social harmony, inter-cultural cohesion and community well-being. It brings people from all walks of life together in South Gloucestershire. Dr. Rajinder Singh, Transplant Surgeon delivered the presentation on the importance of Blood and Organ Donation among ethnic minorities. The event was well attended.

The Guests of Honour included the Chairman of the South Glos Council, the High Sheriff, various dignitaries, civic officials, religious and community leaders and artists. The programme consisted of inspiring talks from dignitaries, interactive sessions, cultural entertainment, refreshments and lunch (Samosa, Biriyani, Gulab Jamun, etc). We also raised awareness about sickle cell disease, blood donation and stem cell donation among communities at the event. All residents of South Gloucestershire were invited to attend.

All South Glos residents interested in attending were requested to register through the Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-south-glos-faith-and-harmony-festival-tickets-886186376307/ or email: info@bristolmultifaithforum.org.uk with your name, address, faith community and your dietary choice before the 5th of May 2024. Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian lunch options were available. It has been a free event, but pre-registration was essential.

Let’s celebrate the day together.

Cllr Tom Aditya (Chairman)

Adv. Tripti Megeri (Secretary)

Update: 3rd May 2024: All the event tickets have already been pre-booked. Thank you very much for all your interest. Please come back for the next event. If you already have the tickets, see you on the 11th of May.

Multi-Faith Peace Gathering

A Multi-Faith Peace Gathering has been arranged at the Bristol Cathedral on Thursday, 19th October 2023 at 1.30 pm.

Joint statement from Bristol’s interfaith community on the escalation of violence in Israel-Palestine

Religious leaders from across the Abrahamic faiths have come together to send a joint message to the people of Bristol, inviting them to come together in prayer for those affected by violence in Palestine and Israel and calling for a swift end to violence and a peaceful resolution of this conflict.

The Rt Revd Vivienne Faull (Bishop of Bristol), Rabbi Monique Mayer (Bristol & West Progressive Jewish Congregation) and Zaheer Shabir (Building the Bridge) along with Cllr Tom Aditya, (Chairman of the Bristol Multi-Faith Forum), have offered up the following words in sombre reflection:

“The continuing escalation of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that we have witnessed in recent days has deeply shaken everybody across the world. Few words can make sense of the tension we feel as we grieve the immense loss of life in this conflict.

We condemn all forms of violence, particularly those that are targeting innocent people and their families who are simply trying to live their lives. We urge the leaders to put an end to the ongoing violence and find ways to build peace among peoples and nations, so that they may live in unity with their neighbours.

We ask all our Christian, Muslim, and Jewish sisters and brothers across Bristol to come together at this difficult time and join in prayer for all who are affected by this conflict, both abroad and at home. We pray for an end to prejudice, both anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim, in our city and our country. We pray for a genuine, long-lasting peace in the region and across the world that unites us all in our humanity.”