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UUdupi, Jan 13: The countdown has begun for the Vishwageetha Paryaya of Puttige Math and to resonate the brotherhood all over the world, a few guests from Australia, United States of America and Japan are expected to participate in the festivities.

Duke Dunellon former minister of Australia, Dr William F Wendley, vice president of the World Religion and Spirituality and Rev Kojo Niwano, the designated president of Risco Kosei-kya movement from Japan will partake in the Paryaya festival.

Duke Dunnellon is a former minister of state for Victoria, Australia. Appreciating the important service rendered by the Krishna Temple established by Sri Sri Sugunendra Theertha to the Hindu community of South India in Victoria in the celebration of Hindu festivals, Duke Dunnell said in a letter dated January 11 that he was looking forward to the day when he could participate in the Paryaya festival on January 18.

Duke Dunnellon is a devotee of Sri Sri Sugunendra Theertha, established by Sri Krishna Brindavan in Melbourne, a multicultural city in Victoria, Australia. Duke Dunnellan is a special sponsor of NRIs in Australia.

Dr William F Wendley, vice president of the World Religion and Spirituality, was the head of the project, the Shared Sacred Story, a project called for achieving coordination between modern science and historical religions. It is a multi-religious organization. It operates in more than 100 countries of the world.

Amidst the 10-year civil war, Dr Wendley is the co-founder of Hope for African Children, an interfaith committee in Sierra Leone founded to help African children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, and is a winner of several international awards. Dr Wendley hails Sri Sugunendra Theertha as the embodiment of Hindu spiritual heritage.

Rev Kojo Niwano is the designated president of Risco Kosei-kya, a large movement of the Japanese masses. Settled in Tokyo, she was the first daughter of President Nichiko Niwano. Actively involved in domestic and international inter-religious dialogue and peace activities, Niwano is the founder of Religions for Peace (RIP) and The King Abdullah Bin Abdullah Zayz International Center for Inter-Religious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAIC), Involved in several organizations like IID.

She is currently serving as a member of the Japan Rich International Co-Corporate and Executive Committee and also in KAICIID. She is also a member of the board of directors and the executive director of the Japan Federation of New religious Organizations. Nivanoo is the author of the book ‘The Buddha in Everyone’s Heart’. She has a master’s degree in inter-religious dialogue and cooperation from Sofia University.