Celebrate Harmony Day: Promoting cultural and religious understanding in Maroondah

Maroondah residents come from more than 90 different countries, speak 118 languages and follow 40 faiths.

Saturday 21 March is Harmony Day, a day which celebrates diversity and promotes cultural and religious understanding in Australia.

Council supports a variety of local programs, events and festivals that help unite our many communities and which promote inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging.

Mayor of Maroondah, Councillor Mike Symon said cultural diversity was a great strength of our community as it brings with it different languages, religions and traditions.

“Maroondah is home to people of many backgrounds and faiths. The most recent Census data indicates that Maroondah residents identify with 40 religions and religious groupings,” Cr Symon said.

“One of the key aspects of the Maroondah 2040 community vision is ensuring that Maroondah is a vibrant and diverse city within an inclusive environment. Supporting greater understanding of and between different faiths is something that contributes to community wellbeing now and into the future,” he said.

Council has funded a series of interfaith seminars as part of its 2019/20 Community Grants Funding Program in support of cultural diversity and understanding in Maroondah.

The Maroondah Interfaith Network (MIN) has received a $2000 community grant to present its ‘In Pursuit of Happiness Seminar Series’, which focuses on the concept of happiness and related themes from a cross-cultural perspective.

Established in 2009, the network exists to promote understanding, awareness and respect for the values and practices of all faith communities in Maroondah.

Sociologist and author Rev. Prof Philip Hughes, chair of the Maroondah Interfaith Network steering committee, has led discussions on seminar topics including: dealing with the challenges of everyday life; what makes life happy; and what makes a happy society.

Rev. Prof Hughes says that while our backgrounds may be different, there are common goals for all human beings: We want a life that is happy. We also want to live in a society which is peaceful and harmonious.

He says that while Eastern cultures typically looked for happiness from within, in Western culture the search for happiness predominantly lay in people’s relationships with others.

“We (MIN) see our role as trying to encourage and bring an understanding and appreciation of the different religious backgrounds of people in the area, while also noting the common humanity and celebrating that,” he said.

Rev. Prof Hughes has spent most of his life researching the spiritual and religious aspects of culture and their expression in both religious organisations and schools.

He says it was his book Educating for Purposeful Living he wrote two years ago which provided the basis for the interfaith seminars. The book represents the culmination of his commitment, exploration and deeply held belief that young people need a sense of purpose if they are to lead lives of dignity and meaning.

The final part of the community grant will go towards funding a Harmony Day Dinner, which will include a discussion on the topic ‘Reaching Beyond Ourselves’.

The event will include speakers from various religious backgrounds (Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic and Protestant Christian) who will talk about how we can reach beyond the mundane nature of life. Additional commentary will be provided by a psychologist and community development officer.

People of all faiths, and no faith, are welcome to participate in this event in celebration of Harmony Day – recognising our differences and exploring our common humanity.

“We hope people walk away with a better understanding of the variety of approaches and understandings of happiness and understanding of the religions themselves… hopefully also having made social contacts with people from other religions,” Rev. Prof Hughes said.

When: Saturday 21 March 2020, 6pm to 9pm Where: Maroondah Federation Estate, 32 Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood

Book online

This is a free event.