Date: Sunday, 16th November 2025 Time: 9.00 am – 5.30 pm Location: Various places of worship across Bristol
Bristol Multi-Faith Forum (BMFF) is delighted to announce this year’s Bristol Diverse Doors Open Day, taking place on Sunday, 16th November 2025, as part of the UK Inter Faith Week.
This much-loved annual event celebrates the rich religious and cultural diversity of Bristol and the West of England region, giving people the opportunity to explore different places of worship, learn about one another’s traditions, and strengthen community understanding. Bristol Diverse Doors Open Day gives individuals and communities the chance to experience and learn about each other’s cultures and beliefs, and offers the opportunity to visit a range of places of worship and discover many faith communities.
Over the years, Bristol’s Diverse Doors Open Day has become a unique tradition in Bristol, with many faith communities welcoming visitors into their sacred spaces. Everyone is welcome to join the Multi-Faith Trail, a unique journey coordinated by the Bristol Multi-Faith Forum in cooperation with local faith communities.
The 2025 Multi-Faith Trail will include visits to a Buddhist shrine, a Greek Orthodox Church, an Evangelical Christian Church, a Muslim Mosque, a Sikh Gurudwara, a Jewish Synagogue, a Hindu Temple, and a Baha’i Centre.
The trail will begin at 9.00 am from the BMFF office at Barton Hill Settlement, 43 Ducie Road, Bristol (BS5 0AX), and conclude at 5.30 pm. BMFF will provide a scheduled minibus tour (prior booking required via email).
Distinguished guests, including His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant, the Lord Mayor, the Police Commissioner, councillors, civic dignitaries, community leaders, university students, and members of the public from all walks of life, are expected to join the day’s programmes. Bristol Multi-Faith Forum requests that various government agencies and businesses support the Diverse Doors Open Day programmes.
BMFF kindly asks all participants to respect the customs and practices of each place of worship during the visits.
We warmly invite you, your family, friends, and colleagues to take part in this year’s Bristol Diverse Doors Open Day. Come and experience the flavours of faith, culture, and community harmony that make Bristol so special. Let’s celebrate UK Inter Faith Week 2025 together, in a spirit of peace and friendship.
Bristol Multi-Faith Forum is an organization established in 2004 by the Bristol City Council for inter-faith community cohesion and inter-cultural social harmony, and to promote community well-being.
The India-Pakistan Harmony Buffet Lunch, organised by Bristol Multi-Faith Forum, was gracefully held with great success at ZaZa Bazaar in Bristol on Sunday, 17th August 2025. The event was a vibrant celebration of unity, friendship, and cultural diversity, jointly marking the Independence Days of India and Pakistan, and spreading the message of community cohesion. This kind of harmony celebration, bringing together both Indian and Pakistani communities together is very special and unique to Bristol, conveying the message of harmony to the rest of the world.
The gathering saw enthusiastic participation from people of all faiths, cultures, and communities across Bristol. Guests joined with zeal, enjoying not only the diverse multi-cuisine buffet but also the rich cultural programmes that showcased music, dance, and traditions from both nations. The guests were all welcomed with refreshment drinks and light snacks, and there were many networking opportunities.
The event began with a warm welcome speech by the Chairman of the Bristol Multi-Faith Forum, Mayor Emeritus Councillor Tom Aditya, who emphasised the importance of peace, dialogue, and community cohesion in the multicultural city of Bristol as well as in the West of England region.
The event was graced by His Majesty’s ViceLord Lieutenant of Bristol, Mr Lee Williams; the Right Honourable Lord Mayorof the City and County of Bristol, Councillor Henry Michallat; the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Andrew Warney; Councillor Raj Sood (South Glos); and Councillor Sibusiso Tshabalala (Bristol). In their speeches, they praised the thoughtful interventions and meaningful service by the Bristol Multi-Faith Forum for social harmony and the BMFF’s efforts to bring both the Indian and Pakistani communities together in Bristol. They also applauded the spirit of togetherness demonstrated at the Harmony Lunch and encouraged continued efforts to build bridges across communities.
The audience was captivated by the melodious singing by Ms Alphons Theres, Mr Shahid Mahmood, and Mr Azam Chisti, as well as the distinct and delightful Bollywood and classical fusion dances by Mrs Monisha Mohan, Ms Samyukta Megeri, and Ms Ayushi De. The rhythmic Thiruvathira group dance by the Kerala ladies team (Mrs Shyamala, Mrs Rajani, Ms. Mekhana, Ms. Sreelakshmi Sudhakaran, and Sreenandana) further enriched the cultural celebrations. The National Anthems of India, Pakistan, and the UK were solemnly sung distinctively with a patriotic spirit by the participants, making it a truly international event.
Mrs Janet Kirk, Ms Gina Smith (Commonwealth Society), Mr Daniel Randell (Church of Latter Day Saints), Mrs Keren Durant (Jewish Synagogue), Mr. Arif Khan (Council of Mosques), Mr. Afzal Shah (Grand Iftar), Mr Mazhar Iqbal (Pakistan Association), Mr. Pankaj Pandya (Hindu Temple), Mr Mohindra Choudhary (Punjabi Forum and Sikh Gurudwara), Mrs Monira Chowdhury (Bangladeshi Community), Mrs Michelle Meredith (Black South West Network) and Mrs Rajani Sree (UK Pravasi Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam) felicitated Bristol Multi-Faith Forum and conveyed their greetings to the gathering.
The Harmony Buffet was also the culmination of the South Asian Heritage Month, making it a special celebration. The event promoted unity, peace, and community cohesion across Bristol’s diverse communities. The joyful atmosphere, lively conversations, and shared celebration created a true sense of fellowship. Participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to come together, relax, and celebrate harmony.
Advocate Tripti Megeri, the Secretary of the Bristol Multi-Faith Forum, gave the vote of thanks to all the guests of honour, performers, and participants for joining and making the event a memorable success. Bristol Multi-Faith Forum extended sincere gratitude to the kind support of organisations such as the Bristol Commonwealth Society, Bristol Pakistani Community, the Indian Community of the West of England, and the UK Pravasi SNDP Yogam, as well as the management and staff of ZaZa Bazaar, to make the event an inspiring occasion.
For pictures and videos of the event, please click the Bristol Multi-Faith Forum’s Facebook page:
Archive: Event Information published on the 16th of June 2025
🌿Bristol Multi-Faith Forum (BMFF) warmly invites you to a special Harmony celebration and Buffet Lunch on Sunday, the 17th of August 2025 (11 am -3 pm) at ZaZa Bazar in Bristol, to share the message of community cohesion and tojointly commemorateIndependence Days of India and Pakistan, in partnership with the local Pakistani community and the Indian Community of West of England (ICWE). It will be a heartfelt celebration of culture, connection,cuisine,shared heritage, peace, and unity. Many dignitaries, artists, and people from various walks of life are participating. This kind of harmony celebration, bringing together both Indian and Pakistani communities together is very special and unique, and conveys the message of harmony to the rest of the world. This is also the culmination of the South Asian Heritage Month, making this gathering an especially fitting celebration. Please book your seats soon. 🌿
📍Venue: ZaZa Bazaar, Harbourside, Bristol, UK (BS1 5UH)
✨ What to expect at the India-Pakistan Harmony Buffet:
🌸 Welcome Drinks and 🧁 Light Refreshments at 11 am.
🕊️Symbolic Cultural UnityRituals: A candle-lighting ceremony for peace
National Anthems of India, Pakistan, and the UK.
Children’s flag exchange/ ribbon-tying ceremony to symbolize friendship
🍛 A Lavish Multi-Cuisine Buffet: The venue: Zaza Bazaar is one of the largest multi-cuisine buffet restaurants in the UK, with an exciting 1000-seats space offering 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. You can choose from as many dishes and sweet treat desserts 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. In addition, the specialist chefs will cook the dishes of your liking at the live cooking stations too. Delight in the vibrant flavors of India and Pakistan, from fragrant biryanis and kebabs to fresh chaats, curries, and sweet treats—all lovingly prepared to celebrate the distinct and shared culinary heritage of these two nations.The South Asian food stall at ZaZa Bazaar uses only halal meat, and there are no mixed meats in that counter. However, it does not apply to other food counters. In addition, as a matter of BMFF hospitality policy, we won’t serve any alcoholic drinks at our events.
🎶Diverse Music,🕺Dance & Cultural Highlights.
🎼Curated Music Playlist that reflects harmony and shared heritage, such as:
Instrumental fusion – Tabla meets acoustic guitar, sitar with piano
Popular classics – Songs from Bollywood and Lollywood golden eras
Independence anthems – Instrumental or softly played versions of:
“Sare Jahan Se Achha” (India)
“Dil Dil Pakistan” (Pakistan)
Contemporary South Asian artists
💃 Dance Performances: Celebrate shared and unique styles from both cultures, such as:
Bharatanatyam – Classical Indian dance that tells stories with gestures
Thiruvathira: A traditional rhythmic Kerala woman’s dance
Bollywood fusion – A modern, fun blend of various Indian dance styles. At the end to build connection—maybe even a Bollywood-Bhangra mashup for all ages!
🕊️ Moments of Reflection & Unity: With brief words of peace, shared stories, and an open space for connection, we celebrate what unites us.
🎶Cultural Ambiance: Enjoy soft music, colorful decor, and a warm atmosphere reflecting the soul of the subcontinent.
🌸Community & Conversation: Sit beside friends and strangers alike, and enjoy moments of meaningful conversation, just real connection.
🧣 Traditional Attire Showcase: Guests to show their cultural dress:
Celebrate the diversity with a short “Unity in Fabric” fashion walk or display
🎉 Dress Code: Feel free to wear traditional attire, festive colors, or simply come as you are.
🤝Open to All People of Harmony: This event is open to all persons interested in the message of community cohesion living or working in Greater Bristol / West of England, and to all friends of peace and good food, who are interested in South Asian culture, who register in advance for the event. This event welcomes everyone who believes in togetherness over division.
Let’s mark this historic occasion not apart, but together — through shared stories, shared food, and a shared hope for unity. Let’s gather around the table, break bread, and celebrate independence with harmony at heart.
Let’s explain a bit more in simple words. In a world that moves faster than ever, Bristol Multi-Faith Forum cordially invites you and everyone who cares about peace and friendship to come together, connect, and relax at our upcoming Harmony Buffet Lunch at ZaZa Bazaar, Harbourside in Bristol on Sunday, 17th of August 2025 from 11 am to 3 pm. This event will feature delicious food from various cuisines and vibrant cultural performances. We are coming together to share the message of community cohesion and to celebrate the Independence Days of both India and Pakistan simultaneously. This Harmony Buffet Lunch is a tribute to the richness of South Asian traditions, the beauty of community spirit, and the hope for a harmonious future. We aim to build stronger community bonds and spread the message of unity and togetherness.
This is the fourth year, Bristol Multi-Faith Forum (BMFF) organised the India-Pakistan harmony buffet series. Previous years’ harmony events were successful, and we received appreciation from all over the UK. 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.
August 14 marks Pakistan’s 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 Indian and Pakistani communities in the West of England region to meet, enjoy, and spread the message of peace and harmony.
The India and Pakistan Harmony Buffet is a symbolic expression of the friendship that must exist between the Indian and Pakistani communities, as well as amongst the Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Bahai, Jewish, Parsi, humanist faith traditions, and all communities. At a time when togetherness matters more than ever, we gather to embrace a shared future rooted in respect, dialogue, and community spirit. Whether you are seeking a midday reset, mindful nourishment, or a chance to reconnect with your community, this event is designed to be more than just a meal—it is a moment of restoration and unity.
Bristol Multi-Faith Forum (BMFF) cordially invites all people of goodwill, living, working, or worshipping in Greater Bristol /the West of England region, to join the “India-Pakistan Harmony Buffet 2025” and to herald the message of peace and harmony amongst communities. If you or your organisation, wishes to be a stakeholder or contribute towards the event or perform a cultural programme at this event, please feel free to email us. Please send your names via email to info@bristolmultifaithforum.org.uk and book the seats as soon as possible. If you would like to support us financially, please email us, and we will share our bank details. We thank all people of goodwill for joining this friendship initiative and buffet lunch. Our acknowledgement and gratitude to all. Let’s all be part of the message of harmony and friendship.
Join us for the India- Pakistan Harmony Buffet Lunch. Nourish, Connect, Restore.
We look forward to celebrating with you. 🌿 Together in harmony, stronger in community. 🌿
With warm regards,
Cllr Tom Aditya Chairman, Bristol Multi-Faith Forum.
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 community cohesion forum in the West of England region.
An Interfaith, intercultural event to promote social harmony and community cohesion.
The 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, Bristol 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 Nine Multi-Colour Harmony candles
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 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 appendix.
Claire Hazelgrove MP
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. He 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.
Cllr Tom Aditya presenting the theme.
Cllr Tom Aditya 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. Fr. Paul
Rev. Father Paul Olickal (Vicar, St. Thomas 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 were also meaningful discussions on the theme of 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.
A group snap of some of the guest speakers and volunteers after the Harmony Festival.
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, 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.
Cllr Tom Aditya at the Iftar Gathering
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.
Cllr Tom Aditya with few of the speakers at the gathering
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 at the Community Iftar.
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 ended 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 16th of November 2025. All those who are interested can join in and be part of it.
Few of the snaps taken at the event
Mr Mohindra Singh ChowdhryMr Satish SunakCllr Mark RosherDr Anjali SoodanMr BassiCllr Tony GriffithsSong by Ms Alphons TheresSong by Dr MeenalDance 1 by Samyukta Dance 2 by SamyuktaFusion Dance 3Tripti Megeri Cllr James HackettMrs SarahMrs JainCllr Tom AdityaDiscussion 1Discussion 2Discussion 3Youth teamHarmony vibe continuesIftar food varietiesFruits trayIftar food varietiesBiriyani and Hot foodFood counter 1Food counter 2Cllr Tom Aditya’s concluding speech
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Archive: Event Information published on the 15th of February 2025
The Event Information flyer
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.
