Tamils and Buddhists come together for cultural festival (From Harrow Times)

Tamils and Buddhists perform at Queensbury Eco-Cultural festival

1:17pm Tuesday 2nd June 2009 in News By Jack Royston

BUDDHIST and Tamil children will perform on the same stage at a Queensbury festival this weekend.

Organisers of the Queensbury Eco-Cultural Festival have brought together children from the Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist Temple and the Tamil Cultural Arts Centre, based in Kingsbury High School, to perform on the same stage.

They are hoping the move will bring cohesion between the two communities, where tensions have been running high over the conflict in Sri Lanka.

Members of the temple, in Kingsbury Road, say they have been targeted in a series of politically motivated attacks triggered by the fighting in their home country.

Meanwhile many in the Tamil community are angry about the Sri Lankan Government's war against the Tamil Tigers, also known as the LTTE, and claim their people are the victims of genocide.

But at the festival in Eton Grove Park, on Sunday, June 7, differences will be put to one side.

Also performing will be the Nostalgia Steel Band as well as music from a diverse range of traditions.

There will be a “green zone”, with fair trade stalls and advice on how to be environmentally friendly, and a gardening zone.

The festival is due to kick-off at 2pm.