The VIII interreligious celebration for peace, organised by ‘Juntas En la misma dirección’ (together in the same direction), through the Tenerife interreligious dialogue group and Adeje council, will take place on Saturday May 21st in Adeje.
The event, coinciding with the global celebration of Cultural Diversity Day, will be held in the Parque El Madroñal in Adeje, in the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Plaza, from 5.30pm, to 8pm. The goal of the event is to show that peace, respect and social harmony between different religious communities isn’t just possible, but beneficial in places with a large cultural diversity, such as Tenerife. During the evening different communities will present cultural activities and there will be a manifesto for peace with an interreligious dimension read.
This is the eighth celebration of the event. Adeje is seen as an excellent location for this year’s celebrations, given its high level of cultural and religious diversity and the perfect place celebrate the “Tenerife living Diversity” theme, a long-term project of the ‘Juntas En la misma dirección’ association.
Taking part will be a range of different religious groups who are part of the ‘Juntas’ association, which is supported by the Cabildo and assisted by the University of La Laguna through the ObiTen group, the Immigration in Tenerife Observatory. The participants are Adidam Ruchiradam, the Asociación Hindu Indian Temple, the Baha’i faith, the catholic community, the Ghe Pel Ling Canarias Buddhists, the Dzogchen International Dzamling Gar community the secular spiritual community, the Tenerife Hare Krishna movement and the Muslim community. Members of the Orthodox Church are invited guests.
Adeje mayor Jose Miguel Rodriguez Fraga said, “Adeje is a borough where multi-cultural diversity is part of our lives and is respected. To be hosting this event is, without doubt, an opportunity to continue on the path to peace, social harmony, co-existence, so important in these days. Where there is conflict we need to respond with dialogue, respect that which unites us rather than those things that divide us, because what we are talking about is creating a world where we can live together with all points of view allowed.”
The University of La Laguna rector, Rosa María Aguilar, said “this celebration is a terrific example of how communicating between those of different faiths can bring people together to express a message of peace and understanding “. The Cabildo councillor for socio-economic development, Carmen Luz Baso said these kinds of activities serve to show us the things that can bring us together, and how to leave behind the things that separate us.
