During the annual Jatra Mahotsava at the celebrated Adichunchanagiri Temple near Bangalore, an inter-religious meet was organized in the presence of 4 – 5 lakh devotees on 22nd March 2016 at 7.30 p.m.
Representatives of Buddism, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism were on the panel of speakers. Rev. Fr Valerian Mendonca, Chancellor or Udupi Diocese and Parish Priest of Barkur Church, was invited by the organizers to present the message of Christianity.
It is interesting to note that Fr Valerian’s ‘Chintana’ programmes on Akashvani, Mangalore, had impressed the Swamijis. The spokespersons of the different religions convinced the listeners that mutual love and respect would enhance communal harmony in our society.
Fr Valerian pointed out that humankind is a single family with God as our Father and human beings as brothers and sisters to each other. He proposed that love and concern, peace and forgiveness, service and mutual respect is the panacea to the ills of the global human family. The message was well-received and much-appreciated by the devotees.
