It was also an opportunity for the community to respond and showing solidarity after the terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Residents joined local MPs, councillors, religious leaders and police to celebrate the success of harmony in the local community – home to people from many diverse cultures and backgrounds – “reaffirming a joint commitment to work with each other and to live together in peace, respect and harmony”.
Harmony Group president Karl Saleh said: “In this tragic time, our thoughts and prayers are with the people of New Zealand. We hope that from this fear, we would turn to unity.
“A unity of purpose that, whatever our differences, we will stand together, in protection of one another. From sadness, we should turn to love, a love that guides us to respect and celebrate our diversity.”
