February 1-7 of each year has been designated World Interfaith Harmony Week by the United Nations. It was launched in February 2011 to promote harmony among people of different faiths at a time when interreligious conflict is claiming lives and livelihoods all over the world. You can join us in building peace this year by participating in a URI event near you, or organizing an event your own.
Check back periodically as we update this list with new activities. Add your event by emailing [email protected].
URI CC events
February 1 - 7 URI Asia, South India Zone & Karickam International School
andle lighting ceremonies on the morning of February 1st at schools throughout the region mark the beginning of World Interfaith Harmony Week, along with interfaith prayers at all morning assemblies throughout the week. They are also hosting/participating in EXPO 2012 at Karickam International School celebrating Interfaith Harmony Week that includes a musical concert and exhibition, Ayurvedic Medical Camp, and an "Exchange Mela" or gathering/festival during which people bring items no longer needed in their own homes so that others in need of such items may exchange or pick them up free. The EXPO also includes an inter-school competition/quiz for students and all others that wish to participate, based upon their knowledge of world religions.
February 1, 8am Basharat-E-Ibn-E-Mariam School System, Pakistan
The Women and Children Development Program CC in Lahore, Pakistan is offering a candle lighting ceremony at the Basharat-E-Ibn-E-Mariam Schools, marking the beginning of World Interfaith Harmony Week. At 11:30am, there will be a "Time Out Prayer" at the schools, asking "May Peace Prevail on Earth." During the rest of the week, special prayers for Interfaith Harmony will be offered.
February 1, 9am URI Global Office, San Francisco, CA
Inspired by URI-MENA, URI's Global Office staff marks the beginning of World Interfaith Harmony Week with a candlelighting ceremony , and a offerings of prayers for peace.
February 2, 11am Garden of the Mothers, Daliat AlCarmel, Israel
Trust Win CC, MADA CC, and Women Reborn CC will be gathering to light a special candle made by Palestinian women, and prayers calling for harmony amongst all peoples will be offered by women religious leaders from Christian, Druze, Jewish and Muslim faiths, followed by a silent walk dedicated to peace and harmony around the Garden of the Mothers, and a shared meal.
February 3 Great Lakes Region, Kampala, Uganda
URI Africa in the Great Lakes Region hosts a one hour radio program of religious leaders on February 3 on Interfaith Harmony for the Central Broadcasting System (CBS) in Kampala. Throughout the week, selected teams of religious leaders will be making visits to different religious and faith groups to promote interfaith dialogue. A roundtable discussion is also being held with religious leaders from Jewish, Catholic, Anglican, Muslim, Baha'i, Hindu, Orthodox, and Sikh faiths on strategies to promote interfaith dialogue and cooperation.
February 3, 2 - 5pm Capital Library, Centre for Intercultural Dialogue (American Corner), Sofia, Bulgaria
The new Bulgarian Cooperation Circle, Bridges CC, presents Building Bridges of Tolerance, an open forum on Inter-religious, presented in conjunction with Tolerantnost of the "Gulen Movement". The presenters include a number of representatives of the main faiths in Bulgaria: Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and Muslim. The forum is an opportunity to bring together different religious traditions in Bulgaria to speak openly for tolerance; promote dialogue on a personal level amongst "people of faith"; and reinforce contacts between religious comunities towards creating the basis for interreligious and intercultural dialogue and cooperation.
February 11, 2pm Cultural Center in Helsinki, Finland, Caisan sali
The Forum of Religions in Helsinki CC and Faiths Without Borders CC co-organized with other interfaith groups a free event to celebrate the ethics of sustainable development. Entitled “Ethically Sustainable Lifestyle,” it will include interfaith discussions of what constitutes a good life and traditional musical performances.
Regional/Global URI events
February 1, 6pm EET
URI-MENA has invited the URI community to join it in celebrating World Interfaith Harmony Week with a candle-lighting ceremony and multi-faith prayer for peace. The URI-MENA event will take place at 6pm EET at the URI-MENA office in Amman, Jordan. Others participating include the Forum of Religions and Convictions in Helsinki CC; the Karickam International Public School CC, which will help 400 children light the candle during their morning assembly on the 1st of February and teach them the song “This little Light of Mine;” and Monica Willard, URI's UN representative.
URI supported events
February 1, 12:30 - 5pm, London Central Mosque
URI Europe Trustee Kiran Bali MBE participates in a panel on Forgiveness, Compassion & Openness in celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week. Other speakers will include representatives from a number of religious groups and interfaith organizations in London and the UK. The panel will be divided into two sessions, one on Abrahamic traditions (Jewish, Christian, Muslim,) and the other on Dharmic Traditions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikh).
February 1, 7 - 8:30pm PST, Santa Monica Synagogue, Santa Monica CA
The Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Ethics CC is helping to offer a Daniel Pearl Yahrtzeit Hamorny for Humanity Concert honoring World Faith Harmony Week. In addition to the music, the event will will feature readings by Dr. Stephen Sideroff of the Institute from Daniel's book At Home in the World, and Daniel's father, Judea Pearl will offer a commemorative reading of his own words. A Yahrzeit candle and Yizkor Prayer will also be offered, commemorating Daniel's lifelong promotion of tolerance and understanding through journalism, music and dialogue. "On this, the 10th anniversary of his death, we take time to pause and reflect, to light a candle in his memory, and say a prayer that such an act may never happen again. We sing and make music in the hope that his uncommon spirit and singular courage may continue to light the world."
February 7, 10am, United Nations General Assembly Hall, New York, USA
The Committee of Religious NGOs, headed by URI UN Representative Monica Willard is co-organizing with the Office of the President of the General Assembly a special observance at the United Nations. Click here for more information.
