World Religion Day is a time to celebrate the culture and diversity of all world religions. It occurs annually on the third Sunday of January and was first established by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of the United States. The first day was observed in 1950. Since then, the event has now taken on a life of its own, as it’s no longer just followers of the Baháʼí faith that celebrate this day. People from all religions across the globe come together to mark this special day.
The Baháʼí Faith emerged in 19th century Persia (now Iran), and believes all religions have value and that there are common features and similarities between them.
In marking World Religion Day, Sam Taylor, a member of the Luton Bahai community said “It is a day dedicated to acknowledging and respecting the various religious traditions and beliefs practiced around the world and in our town. We are therefore encouraging individuals to learn about different religions, engage in interfaith conversations, and work towards a more harmonious and inclusive society.”
Carl Puran of the Luton Baháʼí community said, “As Baháʼís we believe in the oneness of religion and humanity, and that no one should be treated differently because of their race, religion, age or gender.”
Another member of the Luton Baháʼí community Farzad Forghani said, “Based on the Baháʼí core principles, World Religion Day exists to promote interfaith understanding and harmony. When celebrating World Religion Day, we remember that it is a time of awareness and peace.”
Farzad admired the work of the Luton Council of Faiths going into the Schools showcasing how Luton’s different faith communities and faith leaders work together for peace and unity in our town. All attending the event agreed it is important to instill in our children a sense of mutual respect for one another’s beliefs and the ethos of not just co-existence but also working for the common good.
People from Luton’s different faith communities were invited to bring and share prayers, readings, meditations, and thoughts on the themes of unity and peace. They all admitted our world is like an examination hall for us to perform as well as we can, so we get the best results in the afterlife.
Amongst people from Luton’s different faiths, sharing prayers, readings, meditations and thoughts on the themes of unity and peace, Farzad Forghani (L) reading a prayer for peace at the World Religion Day event, hosted by Luton Bahai community