Imphal: The Interfaith Forum Manipur (IFM) conferred its first Annual Peaceful Coexistence Award 2026 on Rev. (Dr.) Vumthang Sitlhou, President of the Thadou Baptist Association of India (TBAI) and former General Secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC), and His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Swami Damodara, founder of Mani Mandir and the ISKCON Temple in Manipur, at a function held on Friday to mark the organisation’s third Foundation Day.

The award ceremony brought together around 100 participants, including religious leaders, scholars, lawyers and members of various faith communities, reaffirming their commitment to peace, harmony and mutual understanding.

The programme was attended by Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly and Vice President of the Sri Sri Govindaji Temple Board, as Chief Guest. Sandham Gandharaj, Member Secretary of the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board (LSTB), attended as Guest of Honour. The event was presided over by Aribam Brajakumar Sharma.

Several prominent representatives of different faiths and organisations, including members of the Vivekananda Kendra, Divine Life Society, Sikh Samaj, Jain Samaj and India Peace Centre, were also present.

Addressing the gathering, speakers stressed the importance of interfaith dialogue, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence in strengthening Manipur’s social fabric. They emphasised that unity amid diversity remains crucial for building a peaceful and prosperous society and assured support for IFM’s initiatives.

The Peaceful Coexistence Award was instituted to recognise individuals who have made significant contributions to promoting interfaith harmony, reconciliation, peacemaking and communal understanding in Manipur.

The awards, conferred posthumously on Swami Damodara and on Rev. Sitlhou, were received by Prabhu Banamali of ISKCON and Archbishop Linus Neli of the Catholic Diocese of Imphal, respectively. Each award comprised a citation, an IFM Lengyan and a cash honour of Rs 10,000.

Delivering the welcome address, Acharya Kh. Nepolean highlighted the importance of peace as a foundation for spiritual growth. IFM Convener Acharya Deben Bachaspatimayum presented the annual report, describing the forum’s work as a continuation of Manipur’s composite cultural heritage and its tradition of interfaith understanding.

He highlighted several key initiatives undertaken by IFM, including a locally sponsored one-year Youth Peacebuilding Fellowship Programme aimed at developing 100 young peacebuilding professionals from different religious and ethnic communities, the foundation stone laying for a World Peace Centre at the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple complex, and efforts to promote public discourse on “Politics as Freedom from Violence from Theological and Philosophical Perspectives.”

Bachaspatimayum also underlined that peace is an intrinsic value shared by all individuals and religions, adding that responsibility for building local capacities for peace rests not only with governments but also with communities and individuals. Five youth peacebuilding fellows also shared their experiences and insights gained through the fellowship programme.

The celebration concluded with participants renewing their pledge to work collectively towards peace, understanding and communal harmony across Manipur.