Bengaluru: Muslim community leaders and Seed India in collaboration with Mount Carmel PU College has celebrated Bakrid for the children of Foster Homes here on August 26. The programme was organized by Dream India Network which invited the partners and collaborators to celebrate Bakrid. Over 400 children from various Foster Homes took part in the celebration. Several community leaders, City Mayor, MLAs, MLC, collaborators, supporters, benefactors and well-wishers of Dream India Network (DIN) got together on the occasion. The celebration was also to express solidarity with the flood-affected victims of Karnataka and Kerala.

Dr Taha Mateen, a physician and a social worker speaking on the occasion said it was, indeed, wonderful and great to see God’s work done in unity and oneness of mind. “If this is not God’s work and if it is not God’s people (the Foster Home team), then what it is….”, he added.

Dr Taha who runs a charity hospital (HBS Hospital) said this is a day of love, a different love. He urged the children to love God above all and to love parents whole-heartedly besides loving others. He spoke of the cost of love, saying heart pains when ‘we love each other.’ The very spirit of festival is loving each other, Dr said and pointed out the competition involved in love. However, the one deserving the highest love is the creator himself.

Referring to the Bakrid celebration, Dr Taha said Abraham loved God and was ready to sacrifice his only son. As such, Bakrid is celebrated in the name of Prophet Abraham for both Christianity and Muslim. Abraham loved God the most. He urged all to celebrate Bakrid in the spirit of love for God more than anything else and the celebration is meaningless if that love demonstrated in the sacrifice for God is absent.

Sr Ashwini , principal, Mount Carmel P U College exhorted the children to follow Mother Teresa of Kolkata to celebrate the great sacrifice hidden in the celebrations . Mother Teresa, an incarnation of God for service and sacrifice practiced what she stood for. Sr Ashwini intoned ‘words of wisdom’ and the children repeated after her. Sr said Mount Carmel College also joined Dream India Network for the cause of children. She said the College collected so many items and sent to Coorg, the victims of flood. She said people are willing to help children.

Fr Anthony Swamy, Chancellor and PRO, Archdiocese of Bengaluru expressed happiness to see the good will of people around. He said Fr Edward and team made great sacrifice to run Foster Homes. Fr Anthony, also parish priest of St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral said, a seven year old girl prayed at Mother Teresa’s funeral to give heaven to Mother Teresa. The girl said, “I do not know my parents, nor do I know from where I came. Mother Teresa gave me life.” Another handicapped child thanked Mother Teresa for his life. Yet another said I got all through Mother Teresa. Mother used to go about with a begging bowl every day. Abraham sacrificed his only son. God sent an angel to tell him God was happy with his mind and attitude. Dream India Network helps children and people to live life with dignity.

Bangalore Mayor, Sampath Raj said those children are going to be the future of India. He assured shelters for the children wherever required on identifying places and building houses. The Mayor said MLA Sowmya sent 15 trucks to Kerala laden with relief materials. BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) could send only three trucks. Mayor Sampath asked the children to send their applications for admission in Mount Carmel in advance.

Sowmya Reddy MLA of Jayanagar appreciated the work of DIN so as to make others happy. She said she was an activist from childhood and stood for environmental protection and various other social issues. She has also given assurance to build houses for the children and would collaborate with DIN and other government agencies, the first time MLA added. She said she could collect relief materials of 15 trucks within a day to help flood-affected victims.

N A Haris, MLA of Shanthinagar Constituency said one should be a human being first before anything else. This world is different and difficult to understand, at times. Bakrid shows the way. Whether it is mosque, church or temple, one needs to be a human person in order to help others in need. Consecutively, MLA for the third time, Harris lauded the efforts of Fr Edward and team for the cause of children. He also appreciated the collaboration of Mount Carmel College. Haris said Eid Al-Adha is celebrated in memory of Abraham’s sacrifice. He appealed to all to give to others and share with others what one has which demands sacrifice. The MLA said he is able to speak several languages but that is not the point. What is important is to live in unity and peace. ‘We are Indians and be one in all festivals.’ Haris hope DIN would celebrate Christmas as well.

Dr Dawood Iqbal, a social worker, said he runs a huge blood bank network to help people. He studied in Christian School and received the values of life. When he was a teenager, he lost his mother due to blood-related complication. This was the reason of his starting a blood-bank. He exhorted children to respect parents and elders. He meets people of all sorts and stands for humanity and society, he said. His parents wanted him to be a doctor and their wish has come true as he has received an honorary doctorate. Dr Iqbal appealed against anyone dividing the society and India. Instead, all should work for India’s progress and all to be part of it.

Earlier, Fr Edward Thomas, the mentor and adviser, DIN welcoming the dignitaries and all others said people from the west rushed to India to benefit from the spirituality of India, the brotherhood, the oneness and the unity in diversity. Fr Edward, Director, Missing Child Bureau (MCB-under DWCD-ICPS) Women and Child Development, said some people find every opportunity to divide India. Some people asked him why being a Christian, he took initiative to celebrate Bakrid. He was invited to speak at a function on Durga Puja. Again, a few people asked him why and whether he supported the idea of idols and statues.

Everybody takes advantage of the spirituality of different religions. Religion is to unite and not to divide. All came together in unity for the Bakrid celebration. It is also a reminder of the great sacrifice of Abraham. The merit lies in the meaning behind. God asks us to love and no religion asks us to divide. If any does, all should say ‘No’. We come to pray together in love and unity. Amidst applause, he said “we will create these children to stand for unity” and they will take the symbol of God which is love.

Those who cause division have no place in India, said Fr Edward who was Member – Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR). Fr Edward said DIN would celebrate all festivals – Christmas and Deepavali and transform India. He said MLA Haris promised government support for all homes. According to the present rule, minimum requirement of children in a foster home is 25 but Haris MLA assured DIN that he would take care of that rule to make necessary changes. The Foster Home children have poverty and other problems at home. So they are looked after in Foster Homes, Fr Edward informed. Here they are given the best of everything. They are also sent to the best English Medium Schools for their education. Fr Edward asked the Mayor and MLAs ‘who is expected to take care of about 4000 elderly people in the city.’

Among others present on the occasion included Ramalinga Reddy MLA, Vishwan MLC, Koshy, Firoz, Reshmi – social worker, Pradeep – social worker, Ramachandran – social worker, Peter Moris –social worker,Shabeena Sultana, AIPC vice president and KPCC spokesperson and a social worker and many more including a few foreign personnel.

Mount Carmel College girls compered the programme and they introduced the day’s theme and its meaning. Bakrid is a reminder to obey God’s commandment. The animal sacrifice has three parts. In commemoration of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son is carried out bu sacrificing animals during the celebration of Bakrid. The sacrificed animal is divided into three parts – one part is given to the poor, the second part goes to friends and neighbours and the third portion is kept for one’s own family use.

Girls of Mount Carmel sang and danced on the occasion. Also children performed dances fitting to the celebration. Sr. Regina, led all in prayer at the inception of the programme. Sr. Jayasree coordinated the entire programme. Sr Lissy Rose, Director, Foster Homes, gave away mementos to the deserving and also proposed a vote of thanks.