Sacred Threads and Stories
It was an honour for the Bradford Hindu Council (BHC) to be part of the Tent of Hope’s Market Place of Faith & Creativity at Lister Park as part of the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture celebrations.
Our stall, “Sacred Threads and Stories,” was a vibrant colourful space filled with laughter, learning, and connection, and we were thrilled to see so many members of our diverse community engage with our traditions.
Our team, included Deepak Sharma, Rajesh Bhardwaj, Vipin and Poonam Joshi, and Bharat and Urvashi, who welcomed visitors throughout the day. Urvashi ji and Poonam ji led our “Grace of the Sari” activity, patiently demonstrating the beautiful art of draping the fabric. It was a true joy to see women from different backgrounds light up as they tried on the colourful saris. This activity beautifully highlighted how a simple piece of cloth can connect people across cultures and generations.
Meanwhile, our “Create a Thread of Unity” and “Colouring Our Stories” activities were a huge success. Led by Deepak, Bharat and Rajesh, who shared stories from Hindu mythology while children and adults alike coloured in pictures of revered animals. We also tied “Rakhi’s” “threads of unity,” or friendship bracelets, for people from all walks of life, symbolising our shared humanity and commitment to community. It was a powerful reminder that we are all connected to humanity by a single thread of love and hope.
We were also proud to see our very own Deepak Sharma lead one of the Tent of Hope’s Guided Walks around Lister Park. Deepak shared personal reflections and stories, fostering meaningful conversations about faith, identity, and finding hope in a divided world. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with people on a deeper level while enjoying the beauty of the park.
Haridas ji representing BHC also had an in depth Spiritual, Religious and Philosophical conversations with other Faith Representatives and the audience.
It was great to see old friends as well as make new friends. Thank you to everyone who visited our stall and a special thank you to Wahida Shaffi, the Bradford 2025 and Beacon team for organizing such a special event.
The Market Place truly embodied the spirit of Bradford—a city where different faiths and cultures come together to learn from one another and celebrate our rich diversity. We can’t wait to continue building bridges and sharing our traditions with the wider community.
