The programme was coordinated by Mr Krishna Singh Moktan, recipient of Bhanu Puraskar (2004) and Sahitya Academy Award (2006) for Nepali literature. Mr Sambu Subba, the District President delivered the welcome after the lighting of the holy lamp and garlanding the figure of revered Sathya Sai Baba. The guests for the day were invited to the dais and garlanded. There were short speeches on the importance of preserving religious harmony by the representatives from the various communities who were invited to the fellowship. The day was marked by an ambiance of worship and fervent prayer even as the speakers gently placed their points of view as regards promotion peace, harmony and understanding between the various communities. The words of introduction by Mr KS Moktan was followed by a sharing on the import of the day by Fr George, the secretary of the Diocesan Commission for Dialogue and by Colonel Parnell, Principal, South Point school and coordinator of the fellowship group Kurseong. Representing Islam, Prof. Irshad Ahmad, Darjeeling Government College, spoke of the need to alleviate the misconceptions about Islam by exposing the real meaning of the words like ‘Islam’ ‘Allah’ and ‘Kafir’. He stressed that banishing misconceptions is the best way to create understanding. Reverend Jampa Tenzin secretary, Sakya Guru Monastery at Ghoom impressed upon the audience the need to foster interiority and compassion and kindness in oneself in order to preserve peace in the external world. Sr Cassilda, St Alphonsus School, Kurseong, stressed the need to enter into united action to preserve the integrity of the family as to ensure harmony in the immediate future. Ms Bindhya Subba a literary figure of Darjeeling and member of the Samity commented on the contribution religious teachings make towards developing good will and fellow feeling within community. Fr Van Valleghem SJ, St Joseph’s, North Point, highlighted how in his forty years of being in Darjeeling there have been innumerable opportunities of learning, such as the ‘fellowship,’ in order to understand fellow beings. He quoted the present pope Benedict XVI and his project of wanting to create a civilization of love. Mr Balram Rai highlighted the contribution the most ancient of religions the Kirantis (Mongoloids) have made to the development of diverse organized religions in the region. Fr Victor summed up the days events by stating that while there is a problem of water and a problem of roads in Darjeeling there is not yet any problem of religion. As a principal he shared the need one feels in running day to day activities of relying on the power of prayer and the Transcendent. Mr BB Lama, the convener of the Sathya Sai Seva Samity proposed the vote of thanks and invited the participants to a hearty meal prepared by the Seva Samity. The upper most feeling of the day was as Fr George said in his introduction, the sense of being together in one another’s presence. Bishop Stephen Lepcha, the motivation behind the Dialogue commission of the Catholic Diocese though unable to have participated send a short message: “One who knows God knows Man. To hate and despise other religions is to despise God and Man.” The prayer becomes of a more inclusive character when we can pray across differences of rituals and creeds acknowledging the basic human commonality in sincere fellow feeling. It was indeed a Sadhbavana Day.