Kundapur: Harmony personified - 44 couples wed at multi-faith marriage ceremony
Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (DV)
Kundapur, Apr 28: Sarvadharma Sauhardha Samilana Vedike, Gangolli organized an inter-religious conference and multi-religious free mass marriage programme at S V Pre-University College Ground on Sunday April 28.
The religious meet was inaugurated by Udupi astrologer Vidwan Kabiyadi Jayaram Acharya, Thokottu Juma Masjid Kathib Mohammed Kunnhi, Belgaum Diocese Bishop and Karnataka State Catholic Bishop Peter Machado who blessed the occasion.
As many as 40 Hindu, 2 Muslim, and 2 Christian couples tied the knot.
Praveen Shetty of Fortune Group, UAE presided. K Ismail Musliyar of Kirimanjeshwara Haklebailu Juma Masjid and William Martis, convener of inter-faith committee, Udupi diocese, distributed the ‘Mangalasutra. Anand C Kundhar of Kota Janatha Fish Mill distributed the rings, while Narasimha Poojary, businessman of Goa, distributed the clothes.
On this occasion, an ambulance was handed over to the Gangolli 24*7 helpline.
Udupi district united Jamath president N Abdul, A D Lima, priest of Gangolli Church, Suresh Shetty of Pratham Group of Companies, Mumbai, Ravindra M Pai, chairman of Udupi Diana film theatre, Bangalore businessman V K Mohan, Kanthu Manjunath Karvi, businessman in Gangolli, Mumbai businessman Prabhakar Ugrani, retired health inspector Kalife Younis, Subramanya Sherugar, president, district government employee association, Abdul Rahman Byari, and J M Raffiq were the chief guests at the inter-religious conference held on the occasion.
M M Ibrahim of Quality Foods, Goa, and Narasimha Poojar of Goa Gun Bounty, were felicitated on this occasion. Ibrahim presented the introductory note. Diwakar S Kharvi welcomed, Kallani Model School students offered prayer.
Addressing the gathering, Bishop Peter Machado said, “Human relations are unified by God and it is not possible to separate them. Let us resolve to live unitedly and forget all misunderstandings. There should not be any discrimination on the basis of caste or sects among people”.
Jayaram Acharya said that all religions preached harmony and we are all one. “We should create an environment for our children where we give the message that we are heading towards one religion. It is necessary that we live together, united forever,” he added.
Mohammed Kunhi said, “Religious harmony should be cultivated in the minds of children. The cancer called communal violence should be rooted out and we should do the work of connecting hearts. In all religions, the place of worship is a center of solace, hence the sense of harmony should be developed from there.”
Film actors like Marconi Manju, Pawan, Vanishri, and Lakshmi were present on the occasion.