Peace in the Park, NYC

Peace in the Park New York 2023, (PIP NY), was showcased in Central Park for its 14th year. Dedicated to the United Nations International Day of Peace, this year’s theme was One People, One Planet, One Purpose. In New York, the busiest city in the world, visitors were able to enjoy an oasis of peace, unity, and a vision for a healthier planet.

The hot weather of the day was tempered by the cool vibrations of our peace-filled event. The Consul General of India, NY, Hon. Randhir Jaiswal, offered his salutations to participants and guests: “we need this dialogue of Peace in our everyday life. It’s good that BKUN is organizing this event at this relevant place in Central Park surrounded by trees!! Many different cultures came together to celebrate Peace!!”

A wide range of activities were provided by a partnership of a like-minded community of humanitarian organizations, and NGO’s, including creative meditation, yoga, tai chi sessions, and interactive conversations on health and well-being and peace building. Children were feted with games, artistic expressions, and just plain fun. The City of New York sent representatives from the FDNY, the Sanitation Department, and their Department of Immigration and Inclusion.

Brahma Kumaris launched its “Embassy of Peace”, an interactive experience of summoning our peace within to become citizen ambassadors of peace, knowing peace begins with our own footprint. A series of programs are being planned to follow up this initiative.

The Virtue Wheel, the Game where Everyone Wins, 21 Postures of the Soul, and Tent of Mirrors were other highlights offered by the Brahma Kumaris as fun ways of learning about values, self-discovery, and inner empowerment.

An exciting breadth of performances from around the globe, including dancers and dance groups from Africa, India, Korea, and Japan, and musical performers from Argentina to America filled the day with song and expressions of love that swept beyond the Naumburg Bandshell.

Spill the Honey movement and nonprofit, founded by Dr. Shari Rogers, launched their anthem with Grammy nominee singer, Ms. Mali Wilson and music producer, Craig Snider.

The Brahma Kumaris is an international non-governmental organization of the United Nations. The work of the Brahma Kumaris is inspired by a vision of the world where every individual can develop to his or her full potential and to live in harmony. The Brahma Kumaris (BK) teach a form of meditation that focuses on our identity as beings of peace and spiritual living energy in the body. The organization teaches to transcend labels such as race, nationality, religion, and gender, and aspires to a global culture of peace and inclusivity. The Brahma Kumaris have over 8500 centers in 110 countries.

Our other partners include: YMCA, International Ahimsa Foundation, World Yoga Community, Let’s Do Yoga, Yoga For Kids, GandhiKing Season for Nonviolence, International Yoga Day Committee at the UN, Planned Acts of Kindness, Spill the Honey with Mali Wilson – Grammy nominated producer & singer & Craig Snider producer; We All Really Matter, Aga Khan Foundation, Natya Anubhav Dance Academy, The Shinnyo Center, Michelle DellaFave, Jeannine Otis, Junia Flavia d’Affonseca, Official Jammers, Dr. Smita Guha, Kalavant School of Music and Dance, Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light, Stella Tartsinis, FDNY, Mayor’s Office on Immigration Affairs, NYC GoGreen, Nahoko Sugiyama.