Eid prayers for peace: Reflections on “Celebrating Days for Peace” and an appeal


Eid prayers for peace: Reflections on “Celebrating Days for Peace” and an appeal
Poster Pray4Peace

This Eid, a peacemonger invites all those who want peace between India and Pakistan to help go beyond the idea of the power of prayer

Swati Sharan

By Swati Sharan

The annual Celebrating Days for Peace (Aug 14-15) initiative is now in its fifth year with many developments having taken place since. For those not familiar, Aug 14 and 15 are people-initiated designated days of joint celebration of independence and freedom from colonial rule. Over the last five years, an additional dimension to this celebration is that people of all faiths around the world take the time to pray for peace between India and Pakistan.

The idea that the power of prayer increases through joint action is something that is common to all faiths. This movement touches millions as individuals and groups of varying ideologies come together for this one cause, even away from the glare of publicity or the media spotlight.

Throughout these years since the idea became public, I have felt nothing but immense and overwhelming support from people of all quarters in India, Pakistan and beyond. The media in both countries have also been amazing and generous in supporting us.

There are so many that have written from everywhere asking how they can contribute to furthering the cause of peace and development. Sports, education, arts and development related causes are but a few recurring themes in many of these letters. And then there are those that wish to give and wield their influence and they too have asked, what do you want us to do?

Pray for Peace between India and Pakistan, City Garden society, Vijalpore, Navsari, 2012

Pray for Peace between India and Pakistan, City Garden society, Vijalpore, Navsari, 2012

Pray for Peace between India and Pakistan, in Pakistan with orphans, 2012

Pray for Peace between India and Pakistan, in Pakistan with orphans, 2012

My answer so far has been to just pray and ask others to do the same on these designated days. But my heart too somersaults when I see people’s enthusiasm to push for tactical change.

A "peace" of cake...

A “peace” of cake…

This is why this year I am appealing to readers to put forward suggestions about how we can practically move forward on Indo-Pak peace and development or at least guide others to. For example, if both Indian and Pakistani high school students want to play amateur hockey matches with one another, I would like to know how to direct them about who to write to or talk to. Or if there are experienced athletes like Milkha Singh or people more familiar with sports, I would like them to guide us all and pass down practical directions for these youths to take for this.

It just seems like a common pattern that there are many missing links in many fields of direction between those who have the energy and those that are seasoned not coming together. And I wish God would just make our worlds collide for the better.

In the meantime, I sincerely appeal to people to please take the time on Eid, July 18, or Guru Poornima, July 31, to ask supporters and loved ones to pray on these Days for Peace. Because I am sure the prayers will make everything come together.  If you have any suggestions, please email: [email protected] with a cc to [email protected].




One thought on “Eid prayers for peace: Reflections on “Celebrating Days for Peace” and an appeal

  1. Masood Akhtar Janjua

    No matter what people in India and Pakistan are same. Same dresses, same marriages, same likes & dislikes, same custom & costumes and same have & have’nts. We need to come closer before time tears us apart and uproot us from the rich culture that we inherit.

    Reply

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