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by Talia Jayasekera

Sri Lanka has received the honour of hosting the second World Hindu Conference, themed `Dharma and the Quest for Peace', in May (2 - 6) with support of the Hindu community in the country. Being a religion with many deep rooted beliefs, this world conference will centre around Hindu heritage, inter-religious dialogue, the quest for regional and global peace and the special challenges existing in the 21st century. The Ministry of Hindu Religious Affairs are the chief organisers of this conference which will be inaugurated by President Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe at the BMICH on May 2.

The five day conference will see a large number of local and foreign religious and state dignitaries, scholars and reputed artists gathering at various Hindu religious halls in the country with the ceremonies ending in scenic Nuwara Eliya on May 6. The conference aims to provide a forum for scholars, researchers, religious dignitaries and youth to exchange insights and promote a deeper understanding of Hindu religious and cultural traditions.

It will provide an opportunity to develop a vision and a program for the continuity of the living heritage of traditional people from Kailasa to Katirkamam. It will also help to identify issues concerning women in Hindu society and promote the cause of their advancement while identifying and protecting traditional lineages and encouraging the transmission of Dharma. The promotion of multi-culturalism and the human quest for peace will also be a main objective at this conference.

The highlight of this conference will be the bibliographical and cultural exhibition at the Kalyana Madapam of the Sammankodu Manikka Pillayar Temple on May 3 from 9am to 6pm. The theme of this exhibition will be on the origin and development of Hinduism and its cultural traditions and their unique features.

Three plenary sessions have also been organised at the Ramakrishna Mission Hall to accommodate 12,000 youth at the New Kathiresan Hall, proceeding a marathon from Ponnambalavanesvaran to the Temple.

Cultural performances by celebrated artists from India and Sri Lanka will be a daily occurrence at the respective venues as well as performance on May 4 at Galle Face for public viewing. Academic presentations will take place in Jaffna, Vavuniya, Mannar, Trincomalee, Batticoloa, Kandy, Matale and Badulla.

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