Dalai Lama to open World Congress

Thursday, September 02, 2010

PTI
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KOCHI: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama will inaugurate the 33rd World Congress of International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) on September 4 here.

About 600 delegates from across the world will converge here for the four-day conference, Thomas Mathew, IARF president and Dr Homi Dhalla, chair of the Congress working party told reporters here on Thursday.

The conference will start with the prayers being rendered by 11 different religious groups.

There will be three Plenary themes of the Congress -- role of religion in promoting human rights, Science and Religion: can they co-operate for the progress of humanity? and Hindus, Muslims and Christians: How they can live together in India?'.

Women as agents for social change and cohesion, Peace action through Gandhism, Role of NGOs to implement UN declarations are among the subjects which would be discussed at the workshops.

Writer Sukumar Azhikode will deliver the keynote address on the inaugral day of the congress.

Swami Agnivesh will be among those participating.