A Pure Love Festival is held for the first time in the capital by the Universal Peace Federation, in its peace mission "to promote harmony through the value of purity and fidelity in a family".

The two-day festival that began yesterday January 17, encourages youth to keep their purity before marriage and fidelity after marriage stressing a theme "One man one woman for Life."

Chihiro Midorikawa the Secretary General of the Universal Peace Federation Tonga said today the festival began with a movie marathon for the family, that drew in about 50 people to the St Andrew's High School Hall.

The festival continues tonight with a Pure Love Talent Competition that will showcase nine church youth groups.

Chihiro who came to Tonga in 1997, said that building happy families is the cornerstone in realising world peace.

A group of five young Youth Ambassadors from the Oceania Leadership Team based in New Zealand and Australia are in Tonga to foresee the event.

Jimook Lee a Korean and leader of the Youth Ambassadors said their work involves travelling around the island nations to promote moral, character education and HIV/Aids prevention among youth, as well as giving lectures on the importance of having a strong loving family.

She hopes that through the talent performances of singing and dancing "it will encourage Tongan youth to practice pure love".

She said similar events had been held in Palau, the Solomon Islands, Samoa, Kiribati, New Zealand and Australia by different youth teams.

The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) is a global alliance of individuals and organizations dedicated to building a world of peace founded by Dr and Mrs Sun Myung Moon.

There are currently 10 active Ambassadors of Peace in Tonga.