BMA celebrates unity through multi-faith festival
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The spirit of inclusivity and cultural harmony took centre stage in Brandon on Saturday as the Brandon Malayalee Association (BMA) brought together three major religious celebrations.
The religions were Vishu, Easter and Eid, all in one community event.
Group’s president Musthafa Parambu said the celebration at Knox United Church reflected a deeply rooted tradition from Kerala, a southern state in India, where people of different faiths live and celebrate together.
Brandon Malayalee Association (BMA) president Musthafa Parambu (right) joins some Christian, Muslim, and Hindu members of the community during the “all religious festival” on Saturday afternoon in Knox United Church. (Photos by Abiola Odutola/The Brandon Sun)
“In our culture, we celebrate all religious festivals together, and that is the beauty of where we come from,” he told the Sun.
The event featured elements of Vishu, Easter and Eid, represented through stage decorations, music and dance performances.
Despite each festival traditionally being observed on different dates, Parambu said the association intentionally brings them together into one celebration.
“Back home, these festivals happen on different days, but people still come together. Here, we combine them so everyone can celebrate as one community,” he said.
The festival drew an estimated 250 to 300 attendees, with participants from Hindu, Christian and Muslim backgrounds taking part in performances across cultural lines.
“You will find Hindu, Christian and Muslim members dancing and singing together, even for songs that belong to a particular religion,” Parambu said in an interview. “That is the cultural beauty we want to showcase.”
Beyond the performances, the event carried a broader message of unity in diversity — something Parambu believes is increasingly important in today’s world.
“We are a very inclusive community. We don’t differentiate between religion, faith, culture or gender,” he said. “We want to show that people can believe in different things and still live together, celebrate together and spread happiness.”
Some children of association members dance to a song during the festival.
The celebration also highlighted Kerala’s long history of cultural exchange, shaped by centuries of trade with European and Arab merchants drawn to the region’s spices and natural resources.
The program opened with the traditional lighting of a ceremonial lamp, symbolizing the spread of knowledge and wisdom, setting the tone for an evening focused on shared values and community connection.
For organizers, the event is more than a cultural showcase; “it is a reminder that diversity, when embraced, can become a powerful source of unity.”
» aodutola@brandonsun.com
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