Preparations for the second Maori delegation to India are underway. As part of the trip, the Maori delegation will attend the Fifth International Conference and Gathering of Elders to be held from January 31 to February 5, 2015, in Mysore, Karnataka, India.
The conference is organised by the International Centre for Cultural Studies, in collaboration with World Congress of Ethnic Religions, once in three years. The previous conferences were held at Mumbai (2003), Jaipur (2006), Nagpur (2009), and Haridwar (2012) in India. Like the past four events, the fifth conference will bring together the leaders and scholars of 100 plus living ancient cultures.
“This is one of the internationally reputed socio-cultural gatherings,” said Prof Guna Magesan, coordinator of the Maori delegation to India.
The theme of the fifth conference is “Universal Wellbeing: Sustaining Nature, Culture and Communities”. The conference will deliberate on how to leverage the current globalisation trend for realising universal wellbeing through sustaining nature, culture and communities.
“Throughout the conference, various ceremonies of world culture will be performed. Workshops will be held to strengthen skills of the participants. Invited guests will present their traditions and respective key concepts related to universal wellbeing,” said Prof Yashwant Pathak, key organiser of the conference.
The conferences have served the purpose of bringing together members of diverse traditions and cultures across the globe with a common thread best described by the “Mitakuye Oyasin”—We are all related.
The Maori delegation is made up of people from all walks of life – academics, kaumatuas, artists, business leaders, etc.
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