Fort Bend Interfaith Council Hosts Dinner & Dialogue

houston: Jyeshtha Ashtami commonly known as ‘Zyetha Aettham ‘ in Kashmiri is a festival of Mata Ragnya Bhagwati held every year in Kashmir at KHEER BHAWANI Temple,Tulmula.

This auspicious day falls on the eight day of bright half ( waxing fortnight ) of Jyeshtha month of Hindu Soli-lunar calendar.

The historic shrine of Goddess Ragnya (Kheer Bhavani or Ragnya Bhavani Mata) is one of the most revered Hindu temples of Kashmir. It is said that Mata Ragnya, a vaishnav incarnation of goddess Durga resides here. She is also Maa Triporsundari incarnate herself. houston: Over 100 representatives from 13 Fort Bend faith communities came together last week for the annual Interfaith Dinner and Dialogue. Sponsored by the Fort Bend Interfaith Council, the dinner is a chance for people of all different faiths to break bread together and learn something about each other’s religions.

This year Zyetha Aetham festival falls on Saturday, 27th May 2023 in USA. Hundreds of devotees from across Texas from the Kashmiri Pandit community attended the age old festival at Houston, Texas with full gusto and vigour. A traditional Yagnya / Homa was performed accompanied by devotional bhajans at the Hindu Worship Society temple at Houston. After the completion of Yagnya, authentic Kashmiri satvic bhojan including Kheer was also served to all the devotees.

“It was fascinating to learn about the things that we have in common,” said one attendee. “But it was also interesting to learn about some of the practices and beliefs that are unique to certain faiths.”

Horizon Baptist Church in Mis- souri City was this year’s host congregation. Religions represented included Baha’I, Muslim, Buddhist, Methodist, Hindu, Baptist, Ismaili Muslim, Jain, Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Sikh, Catholic, Unitarian Universalist and Zoroastrian.

The Fort Bend Interfaith Council was organized as a way to help people of different faith communities meet and work with each other in a meaningful way. Each year the Fort Bend Interfaith Council sponsors an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service in November, Martin Luther King Youth Day of Service in January, and the Interfaith Dinner and Dialogue in the spring.

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