On Saturday, 16th November, as part of the Inter-faith week celebration the Jain community with over 250 members from different groups gathered together at the Kenton Recreation Ground. School children also assembled at the Ground to plant an incredible 1,000 trees to create the ‘Ahimsa Peace Forest’ as part of the Planting for Peace Initiative. This event was also attended by the Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Nitin Parekh, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Jains, Gareth Thomas, local Councillors and leaders of local Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Zoroastrian among other groups. The Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Nitin Parekh said,
“Harrow is the most diverse borough in England and this is a great event that has brought people together irrespective of their caste, creed, colour or nationality.”
The primary aim of the event was to spread the message of peace and harmony whilst supporting the environment to combat climate change through planting trees. Mr Nemu Chandaria, Chairman of OneJAIN, said,
“32 Jain organisations in the UK under OneJAIN joined their hands to create the 'Ahimsa Peace Forest', inculcating the responsibility in today's youth to care for Mother Earth and Nature. We trust many other communities will follow the example set today.”
The event also commemorated the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Deputy High Commissioner of India in UK, Mr Charanjeet Singh said,
“Planting 1,000 trees to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is the most amazing idea in this contemporary context. I am sure as this Ahimsa Peace Forest grows, the message of peace and ahimsa will take deeper and deeper roots.’
