On Sunday, May 23, 2021 at Bharat Bhavan, Wellington
Venkat Raman
Auckland, May 16, 2021
A number of religious groups and faiths will come together in Wellington to offer their joint prayers for people of India currently reeling under the adverse effects of Covid-19.
Hindus, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, and Sikhs will be among the people joining the interfaith meeting scheduled to be held at 3 pm on Sunday, May 23, 2021 at Bharat Bhavan located at 48 Kemp Street, Kilbirnie, Wellington.
Dr Pushpa Wood, Founder and Life Member of Wellington Interfaith Council, one of the organisers of the Prayer meeting, said that as well as Temples and Associations, the support of organisations such as the Office of Ethnic Communities, Co-Existence Wellington, United Nations Association New Zealand and Wellington Interfaith Council have been spontaneous.
Indian Diaspora worried
“People may not be aware that there are many faith-based groups in India, many of whom call Aotearoa home. Thousands of people of the Indian Diaspora have families or friends who have been affected by the current wave of the pandemic. Obviously, they have not been able to travel to India to be with their loved ones and hence this is one way of offering support to each other as well as pray for the healing and wellbeing of India as well as all those affected in the world,” she said.
The power of Prayer
Dr Wood said that most Indians believe in the power of prayer and as such the Prayer Meeting is an opportunity and a platform for all the Wellington faith groups to come together and send their good vibes, positive thoughts and well wishes to the people of India collectively.
“We hope that the message goes across to Indians that the world is with them in prayer during this difficult period. This is the first time that a large number of organisations are coming together in Wellington and all are driven by a single purpose.
Associations get together
Initiated by the Hindu Council of Wellington, the Prayer Meeting is being hosted by the Wellington Indian Association at its premises (Bharat Bhavan), and Ekta New Zealand is organising the promotional efforts.
“The New Zealand Sikh Society of Wellington is in charge of the media, the Hindu Council is involved in the logistics of the event, while the Brahma Kumaris will provide the Parshad (Prasad) after the Prayers. The Indian High Commission based in Wellington is supporting the Project. As a voluntary event, each organisation is meeting its own cost,” Dr Wood said.
Fundraising programmes
In addition to the Prayer Meeting, many participating organisations are raising funds on their own (outside the Meeting) for purchase and dispatch of oxygen concentrators to India.
Dr Wood said that there is no agenda for the Meeting except to pray and consider efforts needed to help people in India.
“The Interfaith Prayer Meeting will not make any appeal to the government regarding repatriation of New Zealander Indians stranded in India. Collectively we are only getting together for prayer and nothing else. This is a public event, and we are encouraging all Wellingtonians to attend. We hope that some government officials, politicians, and people from the corporate sector will also attend,” she said.
She said that various groups are holding vigils.
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