Aikyam: Interreligious Prayer Service at St. Joseph’s School, Bengaluru

Promoting harmony, understanding, and respect among students of different religious backgrounds, St. Joseph’s CBSE School, Bengaluru, hosted an interreligious prayer service "Aikyam," which means "unity" in Sanskrit, on 14 February 2025. Dr. Deepti Navaratna, T. V. Raman Pai Endowed Chair Professor at the School of Humanities, National Institute of Advanced Studies, was the chief guest.

The event began with a prayer dance performed by students, which beautifully depicted the theme of finding God in nature and all around us. Ms. Sheeja welcomed the gathering, which was then followed by the lighting of a ceremonial lamp. To express gratitude for the entire year, a video showcasing various school events was presented to the students. Following the video, an innovative jigsaw puzzle activity was introduced, promoting gratitude and unity among all religions. This activity emphasized love and interreligious harmony, highlighting the inspiring stories of Nobel Prize winners such as Mother Teresa and Malala Yousafzai.

Students from various religious beliefs were invited to share readings from their holy scriptures. The readings included verses from the Bhagavad Gita, the Bible, the Quran, Agam Sutras, Tripitaka, and the Guru Granth Sahib. Each reading was followed by a brief reflection on the common values of love, peace, and compassion that transcend religious boundaries.

A wonderful skit was portrayed that conveyed the message of "Roots in Gratitude and Fruits of Success." The skit emphasized that gratitude nurtures strong relationships, fosters a positive mindset, and ultimately leads to personal and collective growth.

A graceful thanksgiving dance was performed, expressing gratitude to God for His blessings. This was followed by felicitating the chief guest of the day, Dr. Deepti Navaratna. In her insightful speech, Dr. Deepti Navaratna,  emphasized the significance of gratitude as a core value. She enlightened the audience on how understanding and becoming aware of the cognitive map of emotions can foster a more grateful and emotionally intelligent mindset.

The Principal, Rev. Fr. Rohan D. Almeida SJ, delivered a heartfelt message to the audience, emphasizing the importance of love and unity among all religions.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to everyone involved in organizing the event and encouraging students to carry the spirit of Aikyam into their daily lives. The Aikyam interreligious prayer service was a meaningful and uplifting experience for all, reinforcing the message that we all belong to a common humanity, and no religion is higher than humanity itself.