Christmas brings faiths together in Bendigo

BENDIGO’S Karen community has celebrated the arrival of the festive season with a Christmas festival.Organiser Venerable Ashin Moonieinda said the Karen community comprised Christians and Buddhists and there were similarities between Karen Christmas traditions and those in Australia.Venerable Ashin, a Theravada Buddhist monk, said the weekend’s festival involved Bendigo’s Karen residents, and their family and friends from Melbourne and Bendigo.“We did prayers and talked about Christmas and I compared the Christmas ideas with my experiences,” he said. “It is very similar.”Children split into groups to sing Christmas carols and traditional Karen songs, while traditional dancing and food topped off the festivities.Next weekend the Karen community will celebrate its Yargu Festival, in which prayers for peace in Burma will be said and children will be ordained as novice monks.Venerable Ashin said people of any religion were welcome to join the celebrations, which would include traditional song and dance, food and basket weaving.The festival will be held at the St Andrew’s Uniting Church Hall in Myers Street from 10am. Entry is by donation.