MUMBAI | Nine Seeds organized the first-ever Seeds of Peace interfaith camp in India for 21 Hindu, Muslim, Jain, Buddhist, and Christian partner-school students.
The goal of the Interfaith Harmony Camp, held in Karjat from December 19-21 and modeled after a similar camp organized by Pakistani Seeds, is to allow participants to examine the prejudices they hold about other religious beliefs.
Campers gained an appreciation of the diverse faiths and customs that exists within Indian society, as well as commonalities between religions, including shared values and traditions. They also discussed how sectarianism can create an environment of mistrust and violence in their communities.
Throughout the weekend, participants engaged in speaker and dialogue sessions, film screenings, and group activities. Speakers included numerous professors, as well as Shreya Jani, the founder of the Standing Together to Enable Peace Trust, and Simantini Dhuru, from the Audio Visual Education Resource Center.
Several participants said they were returning home with a new, unbiased perspective of other religions based on fact, rather than conventional attitudes.
MUMBAI INTERFAITH CAMP PHOTOS
It is amazing to be a part of Seeds of Peace everywhere because this creates progressive thinking in our minds to bring peace in our society.
I want to ask: I am from Sindh, Pakistan–may I join such kind of harmony camp in India?
Such dialogues must begin and continue from both ends of the age spectrum. We could change the world!