Conclave of Religions in Mumbai's Juhu urges unity in times of global conflict

(From left) Dr Surinder Kaur, Haji Sayed Ambar Chisty, Swami Sarvalokananda Maharaj, Tejashree Ingawale, Bishop Dominic Savio Fernandes and Geshe Tenzin Damchoe at the conclave. PIC/SHADAB KHAN

In a world where bullets and bombs rain down, can we dream of building bridges of love? Religious leaders, artistes and civil society members from diverse religions gathered at a Conclave of Religions 2026 at a Juhu hotel over the weekend, said we should live that dream. The theme was: ‘Sacred Earth, Shared Humanity: Rethinking Religious Ethos in an Age of Crisis.' The event was held by the Inter-Religious Solidarity Council (IRSC), Mumbai.

As the audience filled the venue for the day-long event, noted vocalist and Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient TM Krishna delivered a stirring keynote address. "We have a crisis of fear, a crisis of hate," Krishna stated, urging participants to examine the violence present in everyday relationships and language. For Krishna, the path forward was simple: "The measure of religion is not how loudly we speak it, but how we live it."

The event segued into the first panel discussion titled, ‘Bridges of Belief: Healing Divides,' moderated by Fr Frazer Mascarenhas. This diverse panel had representatives from Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, and the Warkari tradition. At the end of the panel discussion, actor Joy Sengupta, who was a discussant in this session, remarked, "Politicians weaponise religious prejudice, not religion per se."

In the ‘Bridges of Belief: Healing Divides,' moderated by Fr Frazer Mascarenhas, panellists made their points. Bishop Dominic Savio Fernandes said, "Authentic Christianity does not seek conflict but dialogue."

Swami Sarvalokananda Maharaj recalled Swami Vivekananda's call to "accept all religions as true" and hailed assimilation, not destruction. Haji Sayed Ambar Chisty observed, "Islam does not teach us to divide but to connect." Tejashree Ingawale reflected on the Warkari practice of greeting others with "Mauli Mauli," explaining that it emerges from "seeing divinity in every human being."

Dr Surinder Kaur, speaking on Sikhism, said, "The most universal quench is that of hunger. In the langar concept, there is no discrimination. Everyone is fed there." Geshe Tenzin Damchoe said, "Between B, which stands for birth and D for death, we have a C, C - choice. C also stands for compassion. Practice compassion."