News

Dharmasthala Lakshadeepotsava: 93rd All-Faith Conference Concludes

By Editor

Posted on November 18, 2025

128

Dharmasthala Lakshadeepotsava: 93rd All-Faith Conference Concludes

Dharmasthala : The 93rd session of the All-Faith Conference (Sarvadharma Sammelana), held as part of the annual Lakshadeepotsava celebrations in Dharmasthala, was inaugurated by Minister Dr. M.B. Patil on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.

Minister Dr. M.B. Patil’s Address

In his inaugural address, Dr. Patil stated that India has achieved unity in diversity, and all faiths emphasize human values like truth, non-violence, altruism, service, and compassion, embodying the principle that the world is one family. He stressed that respecting other religions while practicing one’s own is the core of our ancient culture. The Minister hailed Dharmasthala as a unique center of devotion that serves all faiths, highlighting its religious tolerance, ‘Chaturvidha Dana’ (four-fold charity) tradition, and humanitarian services as a model for the world. He affirmed that service to humanity is the supreme religion and hoped that the Lakshadeepotsava would foster global harmony.

Dharmadhikari Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade’s Welcome

Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, the Dharmadhikari, welcomed the attendees and set the context by stating that humanity is the essence of all religions. He explained that the term ‘Dharma’ means ‘to uphold’ and its purpose is to guide humans towards an ideal moral, spiritual, and social life. He emphasized that religion should not be limited to rituals but should ignite human values such as compassion, peace, and equality. Heggade expressed concern over the dwindling humanitarian bonds in the modern age of technology, asserting that the practice of Dharma is essential for society to overcome hatred and violence.

Book Releases

The conference also marked the release of two publications:

Dr. M.B. Patil released Smt. Hemavathi Heggade’s collection of column writings titled “Magaligondu Patra” (A Letter to My Daughter).

The collection of Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade’s articles, “Dharmadarshana,” was released by Poojya Swayam Prakasha Sachidananda Saraswati Swamiji.

Messages from Spiritual and Literary Figures

Poojya Swayam Prakasha Sachidananda Saraswati Swamiji of Hariharapura, who presided over the event, advised that a life of peace is possible if we accept diversity and embrace the concept of ‘Vishva Kutumba’ (The World is One Family) through a humanitarian lens. S. Suryaprakash Pandit, Deputy Editor of Prajavani newspaper, spoke about Sanatana Dharma, stressing that all acts benefiting others—like writing books, building lakes, helping the poor, and growing trees—are equivalent to worshipping God. Tanveer Ahmed Ullah, a columnist who completed a pilgrimage walk from Bengaluru to Dharmasthala, shared his amazement at Dharmasthala’s multifaceted social work and stated that his journey taught him valuable life lessons.

Attendees and Vote of Thanks

Also present at the event were Smt. Hemavathi V. Heggade, D. Surendra Kumar, D. Harshendra Kumar, and Pooran Verma. The proceedings were conducted by Dr. Sridhara Bhat, a professor at SDM College, and the vote of thanks was delivered by Belalu Thimmappa Gowda.

Lakshadeepotsava Video