Multi Faith Festivities: Introduction and Implementation

Dear Partner
Request to Help Organise Multi Faith Festivities in your city and other cities through your network and contacts.

Eid is on 31st March, Ram Navami on 6th and Mahavir Jayanti on 10 April 2025.

Faith, Civil Society and Youth Groups in different parts of the country are coming forward to organise Multi Faith Festivities for these three auspicious occasions together on any one day between 2nd and 9th April 2025. Many cities are selecting Saturday, 5th April 2025 for the Event- but it may be organised on any day between 2nd and 9th April as per local convenience.

Planning has started to organise Multi Faith Festivities in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Patna, Ahmadabad, Bhuj, Varanasi, Gwalior, Panvel, Pune, Gulbarga, Bidar and Hyderabad.
About 15 more cities expected to join are: Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Vijayawada, Bhopal, Madhurai, Ranchi, Raipur, Saharanpur, Guwahati and others. 

Background:

Mult Faith Festivities started with Milad Un Nabi in September 2023 and since then celebrations for the following festivals were organised:  Diwali, Mahavir Nirvana, Gurta Gaddi and Guru Nanak Jayanti, Jamshedi Navroz, Raksha Bandhan, Christmas, Eid-Ul-Fitr (Ramadan), Baisakhi, Ram Navami, Mahavir Jayanthi, Easter, Sankranti, Pongal, Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Onam, Bihu, Gurupurab, and others

Two or three religious and cultural festivals happening within a fortnight were identified for Joint Celebrations involving different activities focusing on involvement of youth and with Multi Faith Assemblies common to all.

Grassroot Festivities

An important objective of Multi Faith Festivities is to take the celebrations to the grassroots and neighbourhoods by encouraging people to invite neighbours with their families from other Faiths and communities on any one day of their festival to spend an hour together to share the reason for celebrating the Festival and the core values promoted.

Outcomes Expected: Understanding of the common core values shared, respect for other faiths and harmony in the neighbourhood!

Video Messages

Faith Leaders and Opinion makers also released video messages and media statements urging people to observe Multi Faith Festivities and invite neighbours from other faiths and communities.

For the detailed concept, implementation mechanism, reports of events, video messages and media coverage, please visit the dedicated website: https://jointcelebrations.covanetwork.org/

Multi Faith Festivities: Overview and Implementation

Objectives:
1. To inculcate respect for all religions and appreciation of sanctity of every festival – The Need of the Hour
2. Sensitise and motivate communities- especially youth- to celebrate the festivals with decorum for spiritual fulfilment, as an opportunity to serve society and to promote goodwill and harmony by bringing different communities together in a spirit of Joint Celebrations.

The Opportunity!

Over 500 Religious and Cultural festivals are celebrated in India every year by different faith groups and in different regions- about 60 major ones with 5 every month on average!
Please see the link:
https://www.pw.live/ssc/exams/festivals-of-india

If Faith Groups, Civil Society and Youth Organisations can come together and identify three or four clusters of different festivals- for 3 or 4 joint celebrations in a year- it will open up opportunities for:
1. Closer networking between faith, civil society and youth organisations
2. Provide multiplier effect through collective action
3. Open positive and socially commendable platforms for engagement of and with youth

Promote respect for different faiths and foster harmony in society.

Some Activity Proposals that have emerged for considerations are:
1. Multi Faith Assembly with Faith Leaders and Eminent Personalities who speak about the importance and values promoted by the different festivals to enable a better understanding of all faiths and sanctity of their messages.

  1. Blood Donation Camps– no cost except providing the venue- all expenses and arrangements by Red Cross or Blood Bank or Hospital collecting the blood. This will provide a platform to youth for socially useful and commendable contribution on these pious occasions
  2. Feeding the Needy– with support from some philanthropists, if possible, to engage youth in service to society on these pious occasions
  3. Cultural Programs
    5. Literary Activities
    6. Sports and Games
    7. Video Messages by Faith Leaders, Opinion Makers and Social Media Influencers urging organisation of Multi Faith Festivities and also invitations for home visits to understand different religions and cultures better and secure a friendly neighbourhood.
    Please Click the Link for some Video Messages: https://jointcelebrations.covanetwork.org/videos/

Or any other activities as decided by the organizers to engage youth in celebrating the festivals with dignity and piety! 

Suggestions from Different Cities about Possible Activities by Faith Leaders, Civil Society and Youth Organisations 

  1. Educate and sensitise their congregations / constituencies to observe the festivals with piety, decorum and goodwill for all
  2. Release video messages and press statements to inspire gracious celebrations with decorum that will also be socially beneficial.
  3. Collaborate with other Faith and Civil Society organisations in their cities to celebrate the festivals together for greater outreach and multiplier effect.
  4. Motivate followers / constituents to invite neighbours with their families from other religions and communities to their home on their festivals- this will promote better understanding of all faiths and harmony in society from the grassroots. 

Organisational Structure in a City to Facilitate Multi Faith Festivities

  1. Some Faith Groups along with Civil Society and Youth Organisations can come together to form coalitions for Multi Faith Action in their cities.
    2. One organisation can be designated as Anchor for a period and others can join in as partners
    3. A WhatsApp group for each city for better planning, coordination and implementation
    4. Announcement of events and sharing of reports, videos and photos through a national whatsapp number and website: https://jointcelebrations.covanetwork.org/

WhatsApp: +91 99595 17766

With this structure in place, Multi Faith Festivities can be organised in a city in partnership by different organisations and groups on a regular basis: 3 to 4 or even more in a year!

Solicit your Partnership

We request you to organise Multi Faith Festivities in your city by collaborating with organisations of different Faiths and Civil Society and youth Groups. If Multi Faith Festivities are already being planned in your city, please collaborate to make them a success.
Please check the status of the Multi Faith Celebrations in your city through the Links: 

https://jointcelebrations.covanetwork.org/partners-list/ and

https://jointcelebrations.covanetwork.org/view-events/

To Register a Program you propose to organise in your city, please use the Link:
https://jointcelebrations.covanetwork.org/announce-event/
Resources
The Programs will be decentralised.
All Partners in each City / Town to collaborate to mobilise the resources required for their Program

All our festivals could be occasions to engage youth and communities from different faiths, sects and castes to come together to gain better understanding of the faiths, beliefs and cultures of all others and promote harmony in society.

Let us partner and collaborate to achieve these objectives most required for our societies now!!
On behalf of Multi Faith Festivities
Mazher Hussain
Executive Director
COVA Peace Network
Email,: mazher@covanetwork.org
Mob: 9394544244


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