Udupi: On the occasion of Diwali, Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur led by Msgr Ferdinand Gonsalves visited the houses of Hindu houses and distributed sweets. Greetings were also extended to shopkeepers, rickshaw pullers and people residing in rented accommodations.
The Festival of lights was celebrated by Milagres Cathedral along with Inter-Religious Coordination Commission, Youth Commission and Milagres Friends with great fervor and enthusiasm in the evening at Milagres Tri-centenary Hall, Kallianpur along with Hindus, Muslims and Christians with huge response than expected.
The Diwali celebrations begun with lighting the lamps kept at the stage of the Milagres Tri-centenary Hall by the guests of the occasion, followed by welcome beautiful Bharathanatyam dance by Athiti.
Very Rev Msgr Ferdinand Gonsalves, Vicar General of Udupi Diocese and Rector of Milagres Cathedral presided over the programme. Rev Fr. Pradeep Cardoza Asst Parish Priest of Milagres, Melwyn Sequeira, Vice President of Milagres Parish Pastoral Council and Eugene Rebello, Secretary, Prema Lewis Coordinator of Parish Pastoral Commissions, Nagaraj President of Kallianpur Grama Panchayat, Vijay Suvarna President of Kallianpur Shop-owners Association, Bhaskar Kallianpur Rickshaw Owners and Drivers Association and Jeffrey Dias Convener of Inter-Religious Coordination Committee were present on the dais.
Milagres Cathedral Choir team members sang a beautiful welcome prayer hymn.
Rev Fr. Pradeep Cardoza in his introductory address said that "We all have to live in harmony. Our life should be like a burning lamp, like a hanging lamp, like a glowing coin. Let us live in a spirit of unity and seek God's blessings, blessings and prosperity for all, "he said.
During the occasion nine well known personalities were felicitated by shawl, rose and various gifts by Mngr Ferdinand Gonsalves and guests on the dais. The honored personalities were Capt. Vittal Bhandary, Krishna Mestry, Sulochana, Usha, Raja, Prakash Kamath, Sushilakka, Ayub and Joachim for their various field contributions to the society at large. Jeffry Dias read out the profile of the honored social workers.
Vijay Suvarna in his address said that "The bond between Hindus and Christians is very strong. It is a matter of happiness that the festival is being celebrated in a spirit of unity without any malice, "he said.
Nagaraj, President of Kallianpur Grama Panchayat also spoke during the occasion.
In his presiding address, Monsignor Ferdinand Gonsalves said that, we should not be a light for ourselves, not live for ourselves, but live brightly as a light for others. To live together and grow in harmony would be a fundamental right of the citizens in the country.
Stany D’Souza welcomed the gathering while Marceline Shera Pinto compared the programme. Collin D’Souza proposed a vote of thanks.
About 170 Hindus, Muslims and Christians participated in the programme. Various cultural programmes were held followed by fireworks. The celebrations winded up with distributing tiffin to all the participants. The entrance of the Milagres Cathedral campus, entrance of Milagres Tri-centenary Hall and stage of the event are decorated with lights and Goodu Deepas.