Flying the flag for interfaith harmony

THE United Nations’ World Interfaith Harmony Week was marked at the start of the month with an outdoor flag-raising ceremony, and indoor service, at St Peter’s Anglican Church.

Almost 50 people from varying local cultural and religious groups attended the event which encourages understanding and friendship between unique and diverse cultural and religious groups.

St Peter’s Father Michael O’Brien, Ballarat Malayalee Association’s Lokan Ravi, and City of Ballarat Cr Belinda Coates raised the symbolic Ballarat Interfaith Network flag, which features blue for Ballarat, white for spirituality, a central dark blue circle for the earth, and ascending orange stars for harmony, and the spiritual aspirations of human beings.

The Network’s chair Margaret Lenan Ellis said both regular attendees and newcomers, from Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Baha’i communities, and groups including the Ballarat African and Indian associations were present.

They heard about to the origins of the international week, and she said everyone left the positive and uplifting event “feeling good for the day.”

Cr Coates welcomed the crowd on behalf of the City, which originally funded the creation of the Network’s unique flag.

“Once we got inside, Rajinder Singh Gill spoke about the Sikh religion, a relatively young religion, and its philosophy which is very much oriented on service to humanity, whether they’re your friend or foe,” Ms Lenan Ellis said.

“We are all one as part of the human race, and it’s so important to share what you have and support those who don’t have, regardless of whether they have a high or low social standing.

“Rajinder gave a prayer from the Sikh point of view, which he gave in the Arabic language and then translated into English.”

Father O’Brien welcomed attendees on behalf of the church echoing the importance of community-mindedness and compassion, and recited a Christian prayer, before a virtual speech from Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs Jason Wood, and a virtual Baha’i choral performance.

Baha’i and Muslim prayers, and a Hindu mantra were also recited.