Management of Vadi Hira Masjid at Aluva near Kochi hosted parents, including women, and made the necessary arrangements forthem to get rest while their children wrote the exam.

More than 1,500 students had come to Aluva to appear the medical entrance examination. The students were allotted centres in nearby Thottumukham Sivagiri School and Chalakkal Amal Public School.

“Vadi Hira Masjid arranged accommodation for hundreds of parents who accompanied their children for the NEET exam, said Abdul Raoof Bin Rahim, a social activist and member of the committee said adding that reception for parents was arranged by the mosque management.

Last year too, the mosque management had offered shelter and food and water to parents, but arrangement were made only after they saw the troubled parents near their gates.

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The Kashi Qaumi Ekta Manch or United Forum of Communal harmony of Kashi/Varanasi was behind this exceptional event. This inter-faith group is dedicated to developing a climate of dialogue and reconciliation among the city’s various communities.

"For 16 years, Christians have led this program to promote harmony, peace and inter-faith cooperation,” said Anand Mathew, the group's founder and coordinator of the Vishwa Jyoti Communications, the information centre of the Indian Missionary Society, speaking to AsiaNews.

Last Wednesday, believers and religious leaders from various denominations met to celebrate the sacred moments of their respective creeds: the birth of Muhammad (12 December), the birth of 23rd Jain tirthankara – Parshvanatha – (23 December), the coming of Jesus Christ (December 25), the birth of the 10th Sikh Guru Govind Singh (5 January), and the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti harvest (January 15).

Participants chanted Vedic hymns from the Hindu and Jain traditions, as well as Christmas carols.

Fr Anildev, the Acharya of Matri Dham ashram (i.e. abode of the mother, dedicated to the Virgin Mary), pointed out that "Jesus was born in a manger to proclaim God’ love for humanity and bring peace to people of goodwill. This means that people must be willing to open their hearts to others."
“Christmas,” he added, "is an opportunity to join Jesus’ mission to reconcile the whole universe with love".

Anand Prakash Tiwary, a Hindu, said that the Makar Sankranti festival "is an invitation to return to nature, to create a better environment, and reject modernity that leads to destruction in the name of development."

Mohammad Arif Khan, a Muslim, said that the Qur??n, the holy book for Muhammad’s followers, "promotes respect for people of different faiths."

Finally, Dr Kamaluddin Sheikh, an intellectual, appealed for "harmonious coexistence" among believers and religions.–Asia News

Courtesy: heraldmalaysia.com

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