A rally in Keighley could provide a model for multi-cultural events worldwide, claims a top government minister. John Battle, Minister of State at the Foreign Office, told the audience at Saturday's inter-faith millennium celebration that the event was a beacon for others globally to follow.

People from a wide cross-section of cultures attended the extravaganza, at Cougar Park. Mr Battle, MP for Leeds West, said: "This coming-together is a beacon of hope to others - if we can do it here, we can contribute to doing it everywhere in the globe.

"Today's event in Keighley is a beacon of light which shines out far beyond the Cougar Park stadium. Thank you all for lighting the way." Religious and civic leaders addressing the open-air rally echoed his praise of the celebration.

The Rev Michael Ipgrave, an inter-faith advisor, described it as memorable and inspiring.

He added: "People of different faiths are celebrating what we have in common and are committing themselves to working together for society in the future.

"I think we can celebrate the fact we have come a long way in this country over the past 50 years, as we have become definitely and irreversibly a multi-faith and multi-cultural society. We have recognised the need to respect, honour and work with one another."

The new leader of Britain's Methodists, the Rev Inderjit Bhogal, told the rally there was no room in society for racism.

Mr Bhogal - recently appointed president of the Methodist Conference - said it was important to listen to others and understand their faiths.

"We are all created by God - we are one and we are equal," he said.

"We have got to treat each other with enormous respect - the alternative is ethnic cleansing, and we do not want that in Britain.

"We have got to meet our neighbours of different faiths and listen to each other."

Swami Shri Gopal Sharan Devacharya ji Maharajji - a Hindu spiritual leader from India - said that despite religious and cultural differences, everyone should form a common bond to promote brotherhood throughout the world.

Lord Mayor Councillor Stanley King - who was accompanied by Lady Mayoress Mrs Barbara Ball - said the rally was an important event and he urged people to spread the inter-faith message. "Let us start something today that will be unstoppable," he said.

MP Ann Cryer read out a letter of praise and good wishes from Prime Minister Tony Blair. She then paid tribute to the organising committee and especially its secretary Charlie Bhowmick for its hard work. She added: "This kind of gathering is very special. Meetings of different faiths must be a good thing and I hope from today it will happen more often."

Other speakers at the rally included Pir Sahib Abdul Ghaffer, Chief Imam of Keighley's Jamai mosque. He said he was privileged and honoured to be invited to the celebration and on behalf of the Muslim community thanked the organisers. "I can only imagine the hard work and dedication which has gone into making it a success," he told the rally.

Everyone joined in an act of mutual commitment, and following the speeches there was a packed programme of music and drama.

Among those performing were Keighley Scout Band, dancers from Keighley churches, the Oakworth Mixed Morris dance team, Holycroft Youth Theatre, Eastwood school pupils, and the Airedale Music Company. There was also music from Keighley Muslim Association and from the Bangladeshi community, Hindu drama and song from the Ritam Agni Trust, and singing by Elaine Lambert of Embsay.

Mr Bhowmick is delighted with the response to the event, and he thanks everyone who gave their support.

He told us: "Our 12-member committee has brought something special for the Keighley public to see and remember for a long time to come. Nearly 1,000 people attended. It was a huge success. I was very impressed to see so many high profile religious leaders taking their seats on the platform, in the middle of the pitch. They spoke with great dignity and spirit about their belief in God and equality."

A memorial book containing a signed Act of Commitment is to be put on public display in the town. Opinion p10