By Ras H. Siddiqui
As Muslims continue
to observe the Islamic month of Ramadan with
great fervor, Hindus are preparing themselves
for the Festival of Lights or Diwali worldwide.
And while the two occasions are celebrated in
their own unique way in Bangladesh, India, Nepal,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka where these religions
have co-existed for over a millennium, a local
Northern California group called the “Friends
of South Asia” (or FOSA as it is known) has
continued its quest to foster inter-religious
community relations by holding a combined Iftar
(the Ramadan breaking of the fast at sunset)
and Diwali celebration.
A
section of the audience |
Such
an effort was underway at the Milpitas Library
Community Hall on Saturday, November 6, 2004
as the event started off with the traditional
Muslim sharing of dates, along with a number
of Indian and Pakistani delicacies that have
now become a standard for this occasion in South
Asia. “Namaz” was held soon after the breaking
of the fast as the President of UMA Interfaith,
Mr. Iftikhar Hai ,led the congregation of men
and women in prayer.
The consumption
of various appetizers continued as FOSA’s member
Usman Qazi proceeded to give the gathering an
introduction to the organization which had come
into prominence due to the many peace vigils
held during the year 2002 when India and Pakistan
appeared to be poised for war (causing much
anguish amongst the South Asian community here
in the United States). FOSA has teamed up with
another South Asian organization called EKTA
and others in the past as it continues to promote
its wish for peace and prosperity in that part
of the world and harmony everywhere.
During the past
couple of years, freedom of religion has also
been a part of FOSA’s agenda. And it has promoted
peace in the region by showing “Crossing the
Lines: Kashmir, Pakistan and India,” a Pervez
Hoodbhoy and Zia Mian film on the plight of
the Kashmiri people and the regional ramifications
of this half-a-century India-Pakistan conflict.
In the cultural arena playwright Shahid Nadeem
has been a guest of this organization and it
has teamed up with other groups (3rd I) to show
a “Traveling Film South Asia” screening in this
part of California.
The effort overall
at this Iftar/Diwali was to share common values
and to keep up hope for good relations between
the major faiths practiced in the South Asian
region as Christians, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs
broke bread together, not once but twice. Those
who had already over-indulged in the breaking
of the fast were once again served food as a
full dinner greeted the participants. (A “Guess
Who?” game was also played during which individuals
were tagged on their backs with names of famous
personalities and tried to figure out who they
were).
Looking ahead
it appears that the Hindu Diwali festival is
falling on November 12 this year as Eid-ul-Fitr
will fall on either November 13 or 14. This
sure is going to be a festive period for South
Asians worldwide. So let us end here with the
hope that good sense continues to prevail in
that part of the world and that the message
of FOSA and like-minded groups becomes permanently
embedded in the ruling mindset of the region.
May the spirit of Eid and the light of Diwali
together touch all of us wherever we may be.
