 |
37th IVU World Vegetarian Congress Goa, India, September 10-16, 2006 Healthy Lifestyle - Vegetarian Way! |
 |
Marly Winckler Report
Latin American Coordinator of International Vegetarian Union - IVU
Raven screeches. Peculiar aromas. Very high coconut palms. Saris, kurtas, autorikshaws. Yes, I'm in India - 17 years later. This time for a Vegetarian Congress, which makes my second journey to this mysterious land even more exciting. India is changed, globalized, as the rest of the world, but undoubtedly still has its distinctive smells, its old manners, especially in its culinary art and nice clothing. However the new generations have adopted already Western fashion and there are strong indication that in a few decades it will probably be dificult to find someone in India dressed in the typical costumes. |
|
Nevertheless I don't know of any other country where in some regions more than 60% of the population is vegetarian, as in Gujarat - to where I went soon after the Congress (I wanted to be part of majority) and where one can suddenly find a village where EVERYBODY is vegetarian, as it happened to me in the countryside of this state.
|
Goa, the venue chosen to hold the 37th World Vegetarian Congress, from 10 to 16 September 2006 - has a familiar air for us Brazilians, due to the strong Portuguese influence. Almost 500 years of colonization left marks in the architecture, signs, names, cooking, music, religion. All over the place, one can find traces of the passage of the Portuguese. Located in a privileged part of Goan coast Radisson Hotel discharged of its task of adapting itself to a Vegetarian Congress very well – in preparing spaces for the diverse activities, culinary demos, banquet and the 100% vegetarian food (vegan). |
It is not easy for a country with strong millenary tradition in which milk and milk products are part almost inseparable of the cooking art to adapt itself to this requirement. But – with the guidance of Pinky – the owner of a vegetarian restaurant in Mumbai - and the good will of the chef every day we were served with delicious dishes of Indian culinary totally vegan. It was certainly and advance and a significant landmark in the history of vegetarianism in India. |
|
The Congress had an East taste – it could not be different. And it is these that confer to every Congress – that happen every two years in a different part of the world - tonics and opportunities unique and diverse.
|
A very pleasant surprise was the large and happy Chinese delegation of Chinese Vegetarian Union. The group - very organized and communicative - left its mark in spite of language difficulties. They did practical and theoretic presentations and brought their own TV team who registered everything. |
This group is all the more important since China is the country with the biggest population in the world – with more than a billion people and an ancient vegetarian tradition that is near missed and whose recovering is very important. According to FAO 23% of adult Chinese are overweight or obese. Presence also of countries that rarely have the opportunity to participate – for distance reasons mainly – as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Iran besides Japan and Taiwan. And of course a big delegation from India. By the way – the next Asian Vegetarian Congress will take place in Taiwan, in November 2007. All are invited. Taiwan, as we know, has a lot of vegetarians and certainly the Congress will be spectacular. The Brazilian delegation this time appeared with six people – among them the “Brazilian gopis”. Three of our team presented speeches or food demonstration. We are improving at every new Congress – and that is very good. The program of Congress was diverse with emphasis in what India has more to contribute – its philosophic and religious approach. After all India is the land of very important religions – Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism – which preach vegetarianism. Every aspect of vegetarianism was addressed by national and international renowned speakers. |
|
|
Jashu Shah - coordinator of the Congress and president of Asian Vegetarian Union, besides of being IVU Asia regional coordinator – lead the entire event with clear satisfaction ahead of a dedicated team. Jashubhai – as he is treated in India (bhai meaning big brother) has many years of dedication to IVU with an ample service record. After 24 years of contribution as member of IVU International Council in this Congress he resigned this role. Thank you Jashu. One of the more important things of Vegetarian Congresses is the acquaintanceship with people from the more diverse cultures and regions of the world, united by the same ideal. |
Nothing substitutes this personal contact which makes us feel that after all we are part of the same human family. These meetings serve to create ties of friendship and cooperation fundamental for the strengthening of the international vegetarian movement, main object of its organization. |
 |
May the realization of these Congress nourish the vegetarian flame which already burned all over India in the times of Asoka – making it to meet again its glorious past with the help of a very simple act whose implication are so important: the act of eating.
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Pictures: Marly Winckler
