Kent Equality Cohesion Council

Tag: Ejaz Aslam

  • Gravesham South Asian Heritage Month Celebrations Brings Communities Together

    Gravesham South Asian Heritage Month Celebrations Brings Communities Together

    Gravesham South Asian Heritage Month Celebrations Brings Communities Together

    Kent Equality Cohesion Council supported Cohesion Plus in delivering an annual South Asian Heritage Month celebration in Gravesham on Tuesday 21st July. The celebration took place at The Studio in Woodville Halls and was a full house with some 150 members of the local community attending.

    There was a programme of short film screenings that showcased local community figures and grass roots organisations and the longstanding community work they have been doing over the years. The films were a continuation of Cohesion Plus produced series Big Stories Local Legends, a series that explores the lives of often unsung heroes within the community and the vast contribution they make to the lives around them.

    Civic guests included Deputy Lieutenant Gill Fargher and the Mayor of Gravesham, Cllr Alison Williams who addressed the audiences and spoke about the vast contributions the South Asian diaspora had made to the fabric of British society.

    One of the main parts of the evening was the presentation of the Dev Sharma MBE Community Awards which were presented to Jugjit Sian, Ejaz Aslam, Mala Singh and Cllr Gurdip Bunger for their many years of selfless volunteer work within the local community around sports, faith and community cohesion, demonstrating leadership, commitment and dedication through their work. KKB Group a local business who over recent years have done a lot of engagement and outreach work in the local community and supported different organisations and events were also recognised for their positive contribution.

    The awards are named in memory of Dev Sharma MBE, the former Chair of KECC whose contribution to community life continues to inspire efforts to recognise those who work quietly and consistently to support others.

    The celebration highlighted the strength and diversity of Gravesham’s South Asian communities and recognised the many individuals and organisations that continue to make a positive difference across the borough.

    Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL, CEO of KECC, commented:

    “South Asian Heritage Month and celebrations like it such as Black History are not about dividing communities—they are about recognising the individuals whose hard work, dedication and commitment have made a lasting, positive impact on the people around them. By celebrating local champions on their own merits, we strengthen our shared sense of belonging, inspire future generations, and reinforce the values that make British society diverse, inclusive and united.”

  • Gravesham Eid Celebrations

    Gravesham Eid Celebrations

    Gravesham Eid Celebrations

    Around 500 people attended celebrations on Community Square on Saturday June 23 to commemorate the Festival of Eid, one of the most important dates in the Muslim calendar. Eid marks the end of Ramadan when people from the Muslim faith fast from dawn to sunset.

    The celebrations were arranged by Kent Equality Cohesion Council working in partnership with Gravesham Borough Council, Gravesend & Dartford Muslim Association and Gravesham Muslim Cultural Education Centre. The Mayor of Gravesham Cllr David Hurley and Deputy Lord Lieutenant Dr Bhargawa Vasudaven were in attendance along with Assistant Chief Constable Pete Ayling and representatives from different faith groups including the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, Hindu Cultural Society and Saint George’s Church.

    The celebrations involved the raising of a flag celebrating the Festival of Eid, musical entertainment, fun fair, face painting and the handing out of free food to not only those in attendance but also members of the public passing by.

    According to Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council “I was pleased with the positive response that the Eid Festival received not only from members of the public who attended but also the many partner agencies. To me the Eid Celebrations were like the other events we organise such as Saint George’s Day, it was an opportunity for the communities of Gravesham to come together and celebrate our shared values regardless of faith or if you had no faith at all.”

    Ejaz Aslam the Chair of the Gravesend and Dartford Muslim Association commented “We had an excellent turnout to the celebrations. This is what makes Gravesham so unique. It was a joy to see people from different backgrounds and faiths stand together enjoying the festivities.”

     

  • Gravesham Eid Celebrations Brings Communities Together

    Gravesham Eid Celebrations Brings Communities Together

    The open air Eid celebrations on the Community Square in Gravesham which took place on July 1 were hailed a great success with around 500 people attending. Eid is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims around the world that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.

    The purpose of the celebrations was to bring the diverse communities of the borough together, to share food and enjoy the entertainment on hand which included a fun fair, face and henna painting and a performance by the Four by Four Dhol Drummers. There were also welcome speeches by a number of key guests including the Imam Hafiz Ahmed Sher Barakati who spoke about the need for all communities regardless of faith to work together for the betterment of society, and the Deputy Mayor of Gravesham Cllr David Hurley who thanked everyone for attending and supporting this important community celebration.

    The celebration which was organised in partnership by Kent Equality Cohesion Council, Gravesham Borough Council and the Gravesham & Dartford Muslim Association was the first one to take place outside.

    Gurvinder Sandher, from the Kent Equality Cohesion Council said “I was overwhelmed by the support we had from everyone who attended. The last few months have been challenging ones for our Country with the spate of terror attacks, with people looking to divide our communities to cause disharmony and disruption. The Eid celebrations showcased how different faith communities and those of no faith can come together and promote peace, cohesion and mutual understanding. In addition to the celebrations we were able to share information on local projects and support available including the Reaching Communities initiative we are involved with. Great credit I believe needs to be given to our partners the respective Mosques, Kent Police and Gravesham Borough Council who shared our vision in wanting to make this event happen. I am keen to see the Eid celebrations develop in the future like the Saint George’s Day, Christmas and Vaisakhi celebrations that we organise in Gravesham.”

    Ejaz Aslam the Chair of the Gravesend and Dartford Muslim Association commented “Eid al-Fitr is a very important religious celebration for the Muslim community. I was so happy that we were able celebrate this year on the Community Square with the different communities and faiths that live here in Gravesend. We are very lucky to live in a town which has very strong community relations and the feedback I have received from members of the local Muslim community has been very positive. It is important that all communities stand together and we promote our shared values.”