An Inter-faith, inter-cultural event to promote social harmony and community cohesion.
The South Gloucestershire Faith and Harmony Festival organised by the Bristol and West of England Multi-Faith Forum, with the support of the South Gloucestershire Council and the Southern Brooks Community Partnership, at Bradley Stoke, Baileys Court Activity Centre, on Saturday, 15th of March 2025, was a huge success in promoting the message of inter-faith community cohesion and inter-cultural social harmony. People from various faiths, cultures and communities came with zeal and enthusiasm to partake in this fascinating community event.
The event was ceremonially inaugurated with the Lighting of the Candles, and representatives from all faiths jointly lit the Nine Multi-Colour Harmony candles to show their solidarity and harmony. The session was formally opened through a video message by the Honourable Member of Parliament for Filton and Bradley Stoke, Ms Claire Hazelgrove MP, who expressed her solidarity with the theme of harmony and inclusiveness. The video footage of Claire Hazelgrove MP’s message is enclosed in the link: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/165n6w87PK/.
Cllr Tom Aditya, Chairman of the Bristol Multi Faith Forum and Ex-Mayor of Bradley Stoke-Bristol, presided the session and welcomed all the guests and participants to the Faith and Harmony Festival.
Cllr Tom Aditya gave a presentation on the theme: ‘Faith and Harmony’ and explained that through this Faith and Harmony Festival, we are jointly commemorating diverse religious festivals of various religious communities during this season such as Lent, Ramadan, Holi, Bahai Nav-Ruz, Eid, Ramnavami, Vaishaki, Passover, Easter, and our rich cultural diversity. He explained the significance and relevance of each religious festival and its meaning. He added that through this event, we celebrate inclusiveness, mutual 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. Thanks to the kind support from the South Glos Council and the Southern Brooks Partnership for making it happen. This programme can also be called a Multi-Faith Iftar. This event 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.
Rev. Father Paul Olickal (Vicar, Syro Malabar Church, Filton), Mr Abdul Mohammed (Muslim Preacher), Mr. Satish Sunak (Hindu community), Mr. Mohindra Singh Chowdhry (Sikh Community Leader and President of the International Punjabi Forum), Cllr Mark Rosher (Chairman of the Charfield Parish Council and the Druids Network), Mr Bassi (Business Network) and Dr Anjali Soodan (NHS South Glos) addressed the gathering and shared their views on peace and harmony. The sessions were informative, interactive and engaging.
There was also a meaningful conversation about the significance of ‘Sewa’ (selfless service) to help one another; and the tradition of fasting in different religions and cultures, and how that helps harmony. Cllr James Hackett (Siston Council), Mrs Huma (Islamic Mission), Ms Sarah Bareau (Jigsaw Education), Ms Samie Santos (NHS Mental Health Partnership), Mr Albert Sebastian, Ms Adona Susan and Mrs Jain participated in the discussion. The cultural performances of the festival were entertaining. Melodious singing by Cllr Tony Griffiths, Ms Alphons Theres, and Dr Meenal Shrikhande, and the delightful fusion dance by Ms Samyukta Megeri, and the youth team fascinated the attention of the participants.
There were messages and greetings from the Avon and Somerset Police & Crime Commissioner Ms Clare Moody, West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris MP, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant Mrs Peaches Golding OBE CStJ, High Sheriff Revd Richard Pendlebury MBE DL, Member of Parliament for Thornbury & Yate Ms Claire Young, Chairman of the South Glos Council (SGC) Cllr Franklin Owusu-Antwi, SGC Cabinet member for Communities and Local Place Cllr Sean Rhodes, SGC Community Development & Partnerships Director Mark Pullin, North Bristol NHS Trust Chaplaincy Lead Revd Mark Read, and many faith and community leaders. The information regarding the event and its theme were covered in the media, especially on BBC Radio Bristol and through various community groups.
Delicious Asian food were served, with vegetarian and non vegetarian options. Different varieties of fruits, dates, sweets, desserts, samosas, green salads, chick pea salads, mutter paneer masala, lamb biriyani, vegetable fried rice, pickles, pappads, yogurts, chocolates, and sweet puddings were arranged. Everyone enjoyed the programme and the food. The event received excellent and encouraging response. The attendees provided positive feedback and suggested that such events must be conducted regularly. One of the written feedback reads as follows: “I wanted to say, I enjoyed engaging with the people there. As a South Glos resident, I’m not great at interfaith, but this event really has been inspiring and informative, and enabled me to gain a wider experience of life across the county. I thank you again for your kind invitation, and for the most excellent refreshments. Thank you very much”.
Adv. Tripti Megeri, Secretary of the Bristol Multi-Faith Forum coordinated the event and thanked everyone for their support and participation. Mrs Tripti pointed out that BMFF is organising this event for the South Glos Council as part of our volunteering commitment to spread the message of harmony amongst communities and to promote the inclusive vision for a multi-faith iftar, exchanging ideas about other traditions and festivals as well as sharing and tasting diverse cuisines and flavours. She thanked the initiative by the South Glos Council and the support from the Southern Brooks Partnership, which made this possible. She specially thanked BMFF Chairman Cllr Tom Aditya for overseeing the programme, leading the project team, bringing people together from all faiths and walks of lives to the event and for eloquently presenting the vision at the gathering, withstanding various challenges and stress he faced with his mother’s bereavement, recently. She expressed her gratitude to all the speakers, performers and participants for enriching the event. She also noted her thanks to the venue management team, the event promotion and publicity team, the lights and sounds team, the professional photographers team, the food, catering and hospitality team, the cleaning team, and various community volunteers, who helped to organise the event.
Mrs Tripti added that this year alone, on top of BMFF’s routine commitments and engagements, Bristol Multi-Faith Forum have been part of various iftar gatherings in and around the city, such as the Bristol Cathedral grand iftar, St Mark’s Road grand iftar, Cotham High School iftar, St Anne’s House community iftar, the Dialogue Society’s iftar, the Indian Muslim community’s iftar, Turkish iftar, the Chinese Uyghur community iftar, and iftars at various mosques; and through these gatherings BMFF is giving the message of inclusiveness and harmony, and that is our commitment to the mission.
Prior to the start of the session, Mrs Tripti explained that BMFF had hired additional halls at the venue to help those who want to specially pray during the session. BMFF had commissioned professional photographers to gracefully cover the event, and if anyone is not interested to show their faces in the snaps or videos, then such requests before the beginning of the session will be respected. A section of the attendees, shown reluctance to be in the pictures due to their own personal reasons, and their decisions were politely adhered and their pictures were not taken.
Bristol Multi-Faith Forum promotes social communication, meaningful conversations, the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect. Cllr Tom Aditya explained that as part of celebrating the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, we need to remind ourselves the principle of equality recognised by the United Nations General Assembly, which 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. Cllr Tom Aditya added that 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.
Cllr Tom Aditya reminded some of the BMFF programmes that are coming up in the next few months. BMFF will be supporting to host a Grand Multi-Faith Friendship Gathering, with music, dance and cultural programmes connecting Christians, Muslims and Hindus, together at the Trinity Academy Hall near Filton in April. There will be another Multi-Faith Friendship Gathering, connecting progressive Jews and liberal Muslims in May. On the 8th of May 2025, Thursday, at 10.45 am, we will be joining the Royal British Legion, the Common wealth Society, and the Punjabi Forum, at the Sikh Soldiers War memorial, in Castle Park, Bristol (BS1 3XD) to commemorate the Victory Day that end the 2nd World War and will be praying together for world peace and harmony. August is considered as the South Asian Heritage Month, and in order to jointly celebrate the Independence Day festivities of India and Pakistan and to spread the message of community cohesion, a Harmony Summit with a multi-cuisine buffet lunch and diverse cultural programmes, have been arranged on Sunday, 17th of August 2025 from 11 am to 4 pm. The UK Inter-Faith Week is in November and the Diverse Doors Open Day, organised by the BMFF which offers the opportunity to visit diverse places of worship and faith communities in a single day’s trail, will be happening on Sunday, the 9th of November 2025. All those who are interested can join in and be part of it.
Few of the snaps taken at the event
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Archive: Event Information published on the 15th of February 2025
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. The event will be commemorating diverse religious festivals of various religious communities of this season as well as our cultural diversity. We celebrate inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for all residents. 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.
All South Gloucestershire residents interested in inter-faith community cohesion are invited to register in advance to get a free ticket to enjoy the harmony festival and the delicious hot dinner. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisine options are available. Seats are limited. Last date of registration is the 12th of March. Please register your names with your dietary choice via email info@bristolmultifaithforum.org.uk and 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
Email: info@bristolmultifaithforum.org.uk
www.bristolmultifaithforum.org.uk