an interfaith exhibition

from w
Yesterday I took the train up to Melbourne to visit the Parliament of the World Religions exhibition in Melbourne. Though the seminars were very expensive, one exhibition was free for locals (though this seemed to be a last minute decision by the organisers). It was interesting to talk with people at the display booths - mostly 'New Age' enthusiasts. I was happy to meet with the Sikhs who had an outstanding display of curved walls and great photos and information and of course handsome men in white. One hundred Sikhs from England had come to Melbourne for the conference. I met some Zoroastrians (Parsi) who have an accent on fire. I had heard about them through reading a novel 'Family Matters' by Mistry. There were many people dressed in fabulous costumes and many Buddhist monks.

It was a mix and match exhibition though - more on advertising, identity, generalisations, human rights, meditation. Not many Christian topics on display - though the Salvation Army were there. Notably absent were the Penticostal Christians and the conservative Muslims. I really wanted to meet the Sufis and see their dancing but they were elsewhere it seems and I couldn't afford the $190 daily fee for the lectures and seminars.

There were plenty of hand-outs, CDs, bangles, badges. I did notice some interaction between different groups conversing and smiling and that's where it should be. Of course some of the topics were no laughing matter - climate change, slavery, poverty. Narana wasn't there but an Aboriginal business from nearby Anakie was, and the playing of the didgeridoo made this display one of the most popular.