Congress of world religions

The Zoroastrian faith was represented by Dr Homi Dhalla at the Fifth Congress of World and Traditional Religions held at Astana, Kazakhstan on June 10 and 11, 2015. He was accompanied by filmmaker Rayomand Noble who has made films for the World Zarathushti Cultural Foundation (WZCF) which was founded and is headed by Dhalla. Leaders of various traditions were invited from the world over by the government of that country, including Ban Ki-Moon, secretary-general of the United Nations and King Abdullah of Jordan, mentions an email received from WZCF.

After the inauguration by President Nursultan Nazarbayev on June 10 at the Palace of Peace and Harmony, there was a plenary session on "Dialogue of Religious Leaders and Politicians for Peace and Development.” Four panel sessions followed, the first one on "Religious and Political Leaders: The Responsibility to Humankind” was moderated by Dhalla who also presented two papers in the first two sessions. There were lively discussions with the audience at the conclusion of each session, the email notes.
A declaration framed by the participants in the Congress was signed by the delegates in which it is stated that the Sixth Congress would be held in 2018 at Astana. Important papers from the Congress are to be published and sent to major libraries and universities around the globe. Dhalla was once again appointed member of the Council of Religious Leaders, the email reveals.
A grand reception on June 9 preceded the Congress at which Kassym Tokayev, chairman of the senate had invited all delegates. At the function Dhalla met and interacted with Nazarbayev and Ban Ki-Moon. On the opening day of the Congress, the State Theater of Opera and Ballet put up a scintillating performance followed by a reception by the President, the email concludes.