* Ali to open largest spiritual music festival in Thames Valley area with 5,000 years international cultural heritage
Green Party deputy leader Shahrar Ali is to open the fourth annual Rathayatra Festival (1) in Reading tomorrow (Saturday 30 July).
Ali will give a short address and then be presented with a garland and a copy of the Bhagavad Gita.
Ali said:
“I am honoured to be opening the annual Rathayatra festival in Reading.
“When prejudice based on race or faith is on the rise across Europe, it is vital for us to build greater space for community cohesion and support those organisations who would do so. The ethos of the festival is forever inclusive, whatever one’s religious predilection or none.
“The idea that we may seek greater harmony within ourselves has the potential to get us to re-evaluate our over-consumptive lifestyles and to redouble our efforts to tackle inequality which would leave the vulnerable without their basic needs met.”
Brenda McGonigle, Green councillor in Reading said:
“Community festivals are great. It's always fun meeting new people, trying new food and discovering new music.
“At a time when public services are under attack and the need for them is going up, community and caring for one another is more important than ever.
“Greens will keep supporting community festivals like this one, street parties and Play Streets which are all essential to building community and resilience in these tough times."
Srila Prabhupada, founder Acharya for ISKCON said:
“The International Society for Krishna Consciousness stands for Unity in Diversity through one focus - service. We stand by it to take this Rathayatra across the city without any discrimination."
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