Call to live in faith, unity, love
MEMBERS of the Sikh community were encouraged to live in unity and love with Fijians from different religious faiths and beliefs.
Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts, Rosy Akbar, while addressing devotees during the Baisakhi celebration at the Samabula Gurudwara in Suva, stated that Fiji is a secular state and it is where every Fijian’s rights are embedded.
“This secularism provides freedom to every Fijian to have equal rights to practice their own religion, and this is the beauty of our nation – where we respect and give honour to each and every one regardless of which faith we belong to,” Minister Akbar said.
“Celebrating each other’s differences, cultures and faith provides the opportunity to learn about individuals and encourages peace, irrespective of who we are.”
Minister Akbar stated that to her Sikhism means being a good human being, standing up for others and sharing and caring about everyone.
“We find inner peace from our beliefs, religion, and culture and how we treat other human beings. Religious festivals allows us devotees the chance to be connected to our gurus. We need to revalue values, especially now with a lot of things happening. “Parents, teach cultural values to your children, it is very important because these are the generations that will take us forward,” Minister Akbar said. High Priest of the Samabula Gurudwara, Sandeep Singh said following the recent cases of violence amongst youth and the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to be law abiding citizens so that everyone lives in unity and love.
“We may look different, have a difference of opinions, but at the end of the day we are all human beings, so we encourage the respect of every human being regardless of where one comes from, one’s looks and one’s belief.”
Baisakhi announces the coming of spring – a new year of harvest and the first day of the month of Vaisakha.