KUALA LUMPUR, March 2: A wave of 50,000 Hindu youths is expected to flood Dataran Merdeka, for the Maha Hindu Unity Festival 2016 on April 23 and 24.
The event is organized by eight Hindu NGOs namely; the Hindu Youth Organization (HYO), Malaysia Hindu Sangan, International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Hindu Sevai Sangam, Malaysia Hindu Dharma Maamandram, Malaysia Archagar Sangam, Hindu Academy and World Hindu Council.
The event is headed by Hindu Youth Organization Selangor, working committee.
Selangor Hindu Youth Organisation adviser Arun Dorasamy told The Malaysian Times (TMT) that there are four clear objectives for this festival: it’s to seed Hindu unity, to connect with Hindu Youths, to press for education excellence and to create a new age in Hindu community leaders.
He went on to say that it will be the largest Hindu youth gathering to date, and that it is for a good purpose and it would be fun.
The event will have a lineup of talks, a unity 5-km run, a concert featuring local artist, as well as a large flashmob with an estimated 5,000 people participating.
Popular south Indian actor S. Surya would also be present on the second day to give a talk on the importance of education among the Hindu youth, which is the highlight of his foundation in Tamil Nadu, Agaram.
NO POLITICAL AGENDA
Arun explained that although the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin would be present at the event, the festival itself has no political agenda.
“It’s a festival, a celebration of unity; it is about nurturing unity among Hindu youths,” said Arun.
He said that an estimated 500 events will be conducted throughout the year, to create awareness and to seek a stance for unity.
These Hindu NGOs have also declared 2016 as a Hindu Unity year.