Naanise Pola Mo’unga (left) with Columban Fr Frank Hoare and Pescila Magdalin (second right). Photo: Pescila Magdalin
The Hindu organisation invited me to a religious festival on Ram Naumi at one of the Shree Sanatan temples in Suva.
This festival celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. At this festival, the Hindus gathered at the temple and celebrated the festival by praying, reflecting, fasting, dancing with joy, and listening to spiritual songs (bhajans) for nine days.
I attended this festival on the ninth day. Columban Fr Frank Hoare and Columban lay missionary Naanise Pola Mo’unga also joined me in celebrating with the members of the Hindu faith. They were very welcoming and served us delicious fruits and vegetarian food for lunch. Some members who were part of Interreligious Dialogue events were there and we knew each other well. As we left their temples, some new members (men/ladies) came forward to give their contacts and names to join the Women’s Interfaith group and Interreligious Dialogue spiritual events.
It was a great space to build contact and relationships with other religions to dialogue to bring about better mutual understanding and cooperation between believers from different religions, in service of the truth and the common good, while each retains his/her religious identity.
Reflecting on these virtues reminded me of fulfilling my duties with compassion and perseverance. It also reminded me to strive to live out my faith by serving others selflessly, remaining strong in my beliefs, and deepening my spiritual journey more closely with the teachings of Jesus Christ. This festival reminded me of the importance of my faith and duty, sacrifice, and devotion hearing that Lord Rama was kind, patient, loving and dutiful.
Pescila Magdalin
Columban Interreligious Dialogue Coordinator, Fiji, Region of Oceania
Related links
- Read more from the current e-Kaulotu - August 2024
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