Lima, Peru—UPF-Peru continued its interfaith work by co-organizing, as it did in 2014, an open air Peace Festival in one of the main parks in Lima, Kennedy Park in Miraflores district in November.
The event offered the community a space to enjoy each other’s faith and participate together in activities that promote the spiritual well-being and oneness of humanity.
Among those who attended included Mrs. Patricia Contador, a lawyer and the wife of a congressman who spoke at the festival last year; professors; priests from the Anglican Church and members of different faiths.
Mr. Carlos Espinoza Vasquez opened the event by explaining the purpose of the Peace Festival. Messages and prayers were then offered by representatives of various faiths: Mr. Jesús Mejia Quiroz, an Anglican Archbishop; Mrs. Dina Salas Montoya, an Adventist chaplain, and a Tibetan Buddhist priest, which were followed by a guided meditation and a demonstration of yoga.
The program also included musical presentations by a Mariachi group (a form of folk music from Mexico) and someone who played the Inca Pan-Pipes. Additionally, a violinist performed classical music and songs from other cultures were sung.
As the afternoon turned into evening more people gathered to take part in this celebration of life and for world peace.
The local mayor’s office helped support the event by allowing it to take place in the park and providing the sound equipment for it.