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 The MELA Interfaith Association organized a multifaith pilgrimage to India from Saturday 6 February to Friday 19 February 2016 with the purpose of visiting religious sites that are sacred to Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity, to study texts from our sacred writings, to discuss points of agreement and disagreement, and so sense the religious experience that is proper to these faiths. The major locations visited were Delhi, Varanasi, Bodh Gaya and Kolkata.

In Delhi, participants were privileged to meet Mufti Mukarram Ahmad, Imam of the Fatehpuri Masjid who spoke about Islam. Maulana Wahiduddin Khan spoke of his work for peace through the Centre for Peace and Spirituality, which he founded.

Group shot with  Maulana Wahiduddin Khan Saab, the Islamic scholar and peace activist who has won more peace awards than you can hang on a wall,  he was very peace although forth right is his convictions of peace and the role Interfaith has to play and  how we have to be active in this role. He has translated the Quran in simple and contemporary English and his brother has written children’s books from Islamic passages of peace. He had 3 of his grant daughters speak on their role of peace activism .

The Interfaith Coalition hosted the group at a conference and dinner for Peace and representatives of the Henry Martyn Institute and also met with Mr. Tejinder Singh at the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara who explained the Sikh faith.

Interfaith Coalition for Peace New Delhi

Really lovely young Sufi scholars listening during our discussions at the Interfaith Coalition for Peace meeting in New Delhi. We had a delicious banquet in the garden with the 50 people at the meeting, it was a very special evening getting to hear their  points of view on peace, faith and global issues from Indian perspective.

The visit also included the Lotus Temple of the Baha’i’ faith.

Baha’i house of Worship, also known as the Lotus Temple built in 1986 in New Delhi. All faiths are welcome to prayer here.

The group met with Fr Felix Jones and his colleagues at the Dialogue Centre, and also met Most Rev. Anil J.T. Couto, the Archbishop of Delhi.

At Humayun's Tomb [Humayun was a Mughal Emperor], at the Keenaram Temple, at the Mahabodhi Temple, at Belur Math, and at many other places during this pilgrimage, the group explored some of the major texts of these faiths, trying to enter into their truth and holiness.

Fatehpuri Masjid Mosque is a 19th century mosque in one of the oldest areas of Old Dehli, Chandni Chowk, from the cacophony of sounds and squish of people, rickshaws and cows you enter under the arch to a pool of peace and sanctuary, just a light mist of rain – so tranquil.

Father John asks a question of Mufti Mukarram Ahmad the Chief Mufti of Fetehpuri Masjid Mosque Old Dehli

In Varanasi, the group walked through the winding streets of the ancient city, and spoke at length with one of the dombis at Harischandra Ghat. The group also met with Rakesh Pandey, a renowned yoga teacher, and with Dr Bettina Sharada Bäumer, a noted scholar of Kashmir Shaivism. A visit to Sarnath was included in the tour where the Buddha gave his first sermon.

The great variety of religious experiences during this journey enabled the group to appreciate the rich beauty of India’s differences.

In Bodh Gaya large groups of Japanese, Chinese, pilgrims from Tibet and Mongolia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam were also on tour.  The group joined them as they meditated under the Bodhi tree, where, according to tradition, the Buddha attained enlightenment.

The last city on the tour was Kolkata, the site of Mother Teresa’s universal charity. This was a crucial part of the pilgrimage, because the grou did not come to India only as pilgrims, but also to serve. For this reason they spent some time helping out in Nirmal Hriday, Kalighat, the hospice for the sick, the poor and prostitutes founded by Blessed Mother Teresa.

The Dakshineshwar Kali Temple on the banks of the Hooghly River, a tributary of the Ghanges flowing through Kolkata, the presiding deity of the temple is Bhavatarini, an aspect of Kali, meaning, 'She who liberates Her devotees from the ocean of existence’ – don’t you love that?

The group also visited Asha Niketan, the L'Arche community, home to people of different abilities and disabilities, was the climax. It gave the group the understanding that serving others, regardless of creed or race, leads to intense joy and peace, which all religions seek.

The acceptance of all this diversity helped us understand each other more clearly. It helped us perceive the depths of God more deeply.

Report by: Rev Fr John Dupuche