Press Release
UNITED KINGDOM, May 31, 2006: The OM Day program for unity and peace was started in 2000 as a millennium project by Swami Nirliptananda of the London Sevashram Sangha for global Hindu unity. In the same year the Unity forum of the Indogenic Religions was also founded by Swami in association with the Ven Vagiragnana of the London Buddhist Vihara, Dr. Nathubhai Shah of Jain Sangha of Europe and Mr. Jaspal Singh Bhambra of Ramgarhia Sabha to bring the four communities closer together. For the past six years the programs have attracted community leaders, members of Parliament, Councillors, High Commissioners and others. It has also created an awareness which other organizations have responded in the UK and in the Caribbean where 15,000 Hindus gathered at one time last year to celebrate it. This year an award has been won from Awards For All with a grant of US$5,600 to promote it. OM Day was celebrated in Hammersmith Town Hall London on Sunday May 21. Chief guest was Councillor Richard Barnes with Councillor Jayanti Patel and Lal Nawbatt, LL.B as MCs of the programs. There were talks by Rev. Bandula (Buddhist), Swami Nirliptananda (Hindu), and Prtibha Pragyaji (Jain), among others. Other highlights of the program were the OM Gayatri Yajna in which all participated and a drama by the children of the Buddhist Vihara. Other notable representatives were Mr. W.G.S. Prasanna, First Secretary, High Commission of the Democratic Social Republic of Sri Lanka, Mr. Anil Bhanot, General Secretary of Hindu Council, UK, Dr. Jayant Shah, President of Jain Sangha of Europe, Mr. A.L. Sharma, Vice-President of Seva International and others.