Gandhi Peace Network of North Dakota (GPN/ND) again plans to celebrate October as Peace Month in cooperation with various Bismarck organizations, schools and churches. Oct 2nd marks the 139th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian apostle of peace and non-violence.
Fourteen years ago the first Gandhi Peace Dinner was held at the Green Earth Café. Over the years the Peace dinner has grown. With a lot of support and a diverse group of volunteers the Gandhi Peace Dinner has become an event that people have eagerly anticipated each fall at the start of the hunting season.
The events of 9-11-2001 clearly emphasized the need for more peace work in our community and our world. Aruna and Vinod along with a core group of people came together in 2001 to dedicate a Peace Pole Oct 2nd at a community ceremony at the Unitarian Universalist fellowship. A Sanskrit universal prayer for peace was sung there.
A Peace Pole has the words “May Peace Prevail on Earth “ in different languages surrounded by a Peace garden. Additional peace events in Oct 2001 included 2 free screenings of the movie “Gandhi” at Grand Theatre and a silent auction for Peace with proceeds to the NY Firefighters Fund.
Each year thereafter our Bismarck Mayor has proclaimed Gandhi’s birth anniversary “Oct 2nd as Day of Recognition for Mahatma Gandhi and October as Peace month urging people of Bismarck to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”
GPN/ND has each October dedicated Peace Poles around Bismarck in cooperation with churches, parks and schools. This years Peace Pole dedication ceremony is planned for 1pm on Thursday, Oct 2 at Prairie Rose elementary school, 2200 Oahe Bend, in south east Bismarck.
As in prior years an Art for Peace project sponsored by GPN/ND has been completed at Prairie Rose School. All the school children have made Peace posters, postcards and T Shirts. Non-Violence and Conflict resolution related class projects are underway presently in the days leading up to the final dedication. A Peace Walk will follow the ceremony, with children and parents wearing their colorful Peace T Shirts.
GPN/ND’s signature event is the Annual Gandhi Peace Dinner. The 14th Annual Dinner is planned for Saturday October 4th at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bismarck 3rd St. and Ave B across from the Post Office.
Carry out is at 5.00 pm and sit down dinner at 6 pm. Checks for $30 are to be made payable to Gandhi Peace Network of N Dakota. Funds support children and women’s education in N Dakota. Reservations by email at jjart@btinet.net or by phone 223-4234. A silent auction to support scholarships at UTTC is again planned.
Menu for the dinner is Aruna’s preparation gourmet food of India.
- appetizer - samosa with mint and sweet tamarind chutney
- soup - masoor dal with ghee tadka
- entree - chicken tikka masala; vegetable - shahi korma with mixed fall vegetables
- rice - Basmati pulao with jeera and kala cardamon
- dessert - kalakand garnished with (edible) sterling silver leaf
- tea with chai masala.
In October 2003 the 1st “Pack the Pantry for Peace” collected 1600 lbs of food from donations at area grocery stores. The Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship youth group delivered this food to the area food pantries. This year again shopping carts with Gandhi’s photo were placed Oct 1 near the exits at Central Market in Bismarck and Mandan and collection will continue till Oct 30th.
On Monday Oct 6th GPN/ND will join with the Abused Adult Resource center at “Take Back the Night” an event dedicated to ending domestic violence in our community. The event will be held 6.30 pm at the State Capitol front lawn by Boulevard avenue.
Come and join in the joy of community building, nurturing the flame of peace
