WITH a mandate to promote and maintain Indian culture, the United Federation for Arts and Culture (UFAC) has condemned the sale of alcohol at weddings. At a recent meeting hosted at the Vreed-En-Hoop Arya Samaj, the organisation distributed copies of a petition against liquor bars at weddings. The document, which bore the official letterhead of the organisation and was sanctioned by its Board of Directors, read: “We, the undersigned, protest the establishment of liquor bars at weddings and/or religious functions, and urge officials to take action against those contravening laws against said operations and the illicit sale of liquor to minors”.
President of the UFAC, Mr. Vishnu Bandhu, said that entering wedding houses and seeing these bars was an act of “gross disrespect”. He stressed that marriage in all forms was a sacred act. He suggested that license should not be given to these persons to run the bar, and in these instances, alcoholic beverages should be seized. Special guest from Toronto, Canada, Dr. Satesh Prakash, was in full support of the petition.
Bandhu encouraged persons of all denominations to come together and let the government and opposition know that the issue is a serious one.
He reiterated that the UFAC is not a religious organization, but an organisation that seeks to address the problems of East Indians, whether Christian, Muslim or Hindu. He stressed that did not mean turning their backs on other races. He noted that persons of all ethnicities should have an awareness of their culture.
He noted that young people have been raised in the Western style, and he condemned certain modes of dress and behaviour. He urged people to come away from the Trinidad Chutney, and urged them to come back to the Indian style of music and dress.
Bandhu said that, since its launch, the Federation has done a lot of work, such as the donation of wheelchairs, food and clothing in several areas of the country. The body also recently held a seven curry sale, which Bandhu praised as very successful, noting that the sale raised almost $200 thousand. The UFAC is also planning to establish a home for battered women, which he said would be a long-term project costing some $100M. He said that the UFAC is trying to raise funds for a badly needed Indian orchestra.
In an after-meeting interview, Bandhu said the UFAC would dearly love to reach out to youths, especially young women, for instruction in culture and life skills such as sewing.
He recalled a time when every Indian village had a social group. Stressing that the UFAC believes in gender equality, Bandhu explained that if young people, especially women, educate themselves, they would be more empowered, especially as they enter into marriage.
The organization, the brainchild of Bandhu and Programme Coordinator, Mr. Davindra Daodatt, was launched on May 12 of this year. Bandhu said that since its launch, less than three months ago, the UFAC already has over 100 members and is associated with several organisations.
Its Mission Statement reads that the organisation’s vision is to promote and maintain the ideals of Indian culture, and to provide for the welfare of all. The members strive to be the most respected Indian organisation based on the principles of Vedic Sathya Sanaathan Dharma, in which every man; woman and child will have the power and independence to experience and archive the ideals of Indian culture.
The UFAC states its main values as righteousness, respect, education and teamwork.