To promote peace and harmony in the society, and inter-faith dialogue, leaders of different faiths met at the Archbishop’s House, Shillong on Monday and formed the Shillong All Faiths Forum (SAFF).
The SAFF has the Bishop of the Church of North India, Purely Lyngdoh as the president and Rev EH Kharkongor as the secretary.
The forum also has Fr John Madur of the Catholic Church’s Shillong Archdiocese as the vice-president, and Central Puja Committee president Naba Bhattacharjee as the joint-secretary.
Lyngdoh said the main objective of the SAFF is to promote peace and harmony in the society.
The other objectives are to promote inter-faith dialogue, goodwill visits in response to specific situations or needs, programmes to march forward and progress together, the spirit of humanity and love to support each other and with one another.
On re-opening of places of worship, the SAFF appealed to all to abide by the advice of the government and to religiously follow the necessary protocols.
The SAFF also conveyed its wishes to the celebrants of the Janmastami Festival and exhorts all to avoid public meetings and gatherings but to follow the laid down protocols for the health and welfare of all.