Dr. Avnish Jolly, Chandigarh,1 st, October 2008 :Before bidding adieu, the participants of the Third International Peace Festival inscribed their messages on an eleven metre long scroll with their signatures. Messages like "We want a world without boundaries," and, "We will create a world which needs only passports of peace" caught eye balls, another one inscribed "Europe had become barrier free, Africans are also uniting, Asia should also take lead’.
The first remarks of best wishes for the endeavour were made by Samvartak Singh, DPI (Schools), Chandigarh Administration. The participants will tear the scroll into pieces and each one will carry a message of peace along. In a world ridden with terrorist attacks becoming a norm, these messages give a lot of hope for a peaceful future.
The fourth and concluding day of the festival began with a lot of fun and frolic, participants once again expressed themselves in songs and dances from their respective countries and regions. Dances from Nepal and Bhtan had everyone tapping their feet, many joined in to shake a leg. About 250 participants are in town from Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and Bhutan to spread a message of peace across Asia.
The new DPI (Schools) Samvartak Singh, who met the peace delegates from across Asia today, promised that from the next year more participants from more countries and regions will be included in the effort of the Peace City Chandigarh to spread a message of peace. He also lauded the role of Yuvsatta, a city based NGO in taking the initiative to create Peace clubs in the city schools and for spreading the message of peace to other cities and countries.
The participants will be taken to India Gate, Delhi, tomorrow morning to join in prayer meeting for peace on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Before leaving the Peace City, Common Wealth Youth Centre hosted a dinner for the participants.