A 1000 Lights of Peace

Event: Mahatma Gandhi Birthday Celebrated
Date: October 5, 2008
Venue: Miller Outdoor Theater

It was the third annual 1000 lights for Peace on October 5, 2008 at the Miller Outdoor Theater. A Festival Celebrating Mahatma Gandhi?s Birthday, or, Jayanti, as it is called in Hindi and the United Nations official decision to declare this day, for ever more as the International Day of Peace and Non Violence.

The parade started from the Rose Garden in Herman Park, near the Gandhi Statue where people gathered to walk 3.1 miles around the park, demonstrating that a life commitment to peace is a daily steadfast process requiring patience. The crowd smiled while they walked around carrying banners with songs of peace, non-violence, service and love. Upon reaching Miller Outdoor Theater the crowds assembled onto the stage as Lamar High School Orchestra cheered the crowd.

A memorable reenactment of the famous Salt March, led by Gandhi in 1930 which took place at Dandi, was top notch to say the least. Performance written by Yaksha Bhatt and performed by Shunya Theater.

Atul Kothari Director of the Mahatma Gandhi Library was given a special declaration from the United Nations, and was signed by Congresswoman Sheela Jackson Lee personally, recognizing his work in the great city of Houston.

The event concluded with lighting up candles. Making the evening ?A 1000 Lights of Peace? a success, promising it to get bigger and better.