South Africans encouraged to unite and celebrate diversity

South Africans are encouraged to take time to reflect on the meaning of the day and what it means to live in the rainbow nation.

This is according to Linestha Chavan, director and Vedanta philosophy (Hindu philosophy) teacher at the Vedanta Institute Johannesburg, who urged South Africans to celebrate diversity as a nation.

“South Africa is a magnificent nation, the Rainbow Nation, a nation so diverse in its people, traditions, belief systems, cultural values and way of life [and] as South Africans we often fail to understand the true value of this diversity,” he said.

Chavan also stressed that oftentimes this diversity led to differences, which in turn led to misunderstanding.

He encouraged people to understand one another’s differences as they were inherent in the world, and in fact should celebrate them.

“Heritage Day is a day that affords each South African the opportunity to share their heritage…and in doings so, assists our nation to understand and gain value from the rich culture that has moulded each member,” he said.

Chavan added that for people to share their culture, traditions and values with others, they must first understand their own cultures first.

He encouraged people to use the day as a time to understand the true value found in each culture, and to use it to build a unified South Africa.

“It is in this spirit of understanding and sharing that true unity is established,” he said.