"Charting a Path Forward: Celebrating Successes, Reflecting on Growth, and Building a Bright Future"

A conference on only for women was held at Italy Vatican City on Women building a culture of encounter interreligious meeting on 25^th to 28th January 2023 for almost five days. More than 78 women from various parts of the world, attended and participated in the wonderful women only conference. It is not end there; the women still meet for online discussions on a monthly basis. It was a great success, due to large part openness and willingness to share, listen, and network.

The second meeting was again at Vatican City on Hindus and Christians in Europe: Bringing together a “fraternity based new humanism” at Meeting room, Dicastery for promoting Unity.

Dr Lokkegaard Morten, India Delegation President, EU

For the World Environment Day, presented a paper on cattle ranching and its harmful effects on environment, which was aired to nearly more than 500 countries.

The Religion for peace, UK faith network also have several meetings and events regularly and arranged a Gender Equality Empowerment meeting and London Symposium

NASACRE Meeting – National Association of standing Advisory councils of Religious Education was held on June 5^th. SACRE members from England were present in full attendance, where we had fruitful and constructive discussions and conclusions.

KAICCIID DIALLOGUE CENTRE invited Lakshmi Vyas for a meeting on ‘WORDS OF SOUL’ 0N 26^TH June 2023. It was held in Vienna Parliament and received with huge support and good interaction.

On 27^th June HFE was invited for the 30^th Anniversary of EU Internal Market” Article 17 Dialogues”. Also, there were regulation invitations from Article 17 meetings. HFE joined the meetings, online.

Presented a paper on Women in religious scriptures. The topic is very interesting – Is there a particular woman in your religious scriptures who inspires and how/why. I spoke on Goddess Saraswati who is Goddess of learning. The Vedas hold women in high esteem address them as Dharma Patni.

Dr. Vyas attended several meetings on Climate, Environment, and on Indian Sanskruti. One of them was, Raksha Bandhan, where Sisters ties thread to bothers. It was highlighted that, thread can be tied to anyone, it is a bond which gives brotherly and sisterly feelings.

This Diwali was celebrated in the European Parliament on 25^th October 2023 by President Dr Vyas and India Delegation MEP Dr. Lokkegaard Morten. He addressed the 80 plus crowd talked on the significance of Diwali for Indians. Along with them were present H.E. Ambassador Santosh Jha, Belgium, H.E. Ambassador of Nepal Gajendra Rajbhandari, H.E. S. Gunnesses. Kishen Manocha has been Senior Adviser on Freedom of Religion & Belief at the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in Warsaw since May 2015. Our spiritual advisors Amaranda Swami and Swami Rameshwarnanda addressed the 80 plus audience who had come from different parts of Europe.

My specials thanks to Nitin Palan & Kamu Palan, Amarananda Swami, Pujya Rameshwarnanda Swami, (Spiritual Leaders) Arun Jogani, Kesh Morjaria, Ragasudha Vinjamuri, Sr Jaimini Patel, BK, Arun Thakore, Ram Mandir, K.S. Chana Printers, Southall for making the magazine on time and all the members of HFE. Special thanks to President of India Delegation, Europe Dr. Lokkegaard, President for hosting the event in EU Parliament and his assistants Ladekarl Jens and Hansen Josephine. My thanks are also due to Kishen Manocha being present throughout the event. Our members Manik Paul, Ivon, Govinda & group from Italy, all members from Antwerp and Brussels and all the overwhelming audience.