People of diverse faiths join in celebration

The motive behind the event by the organizers, Interfaith Alliance of Central California, was to celebrate religious freedom and diversity.

The annual prayer celebration at the Fresno City hall included a traditional music performance on tabla and harmoniums by the members of the Sikh Council of Central California which was joined by the Unitarian Universalist minister Bryan Jessup.

Apart from the event by the Interfaith Alliance of Central California, a Christian prayer event was also organized at the Fresno City Hall at around 6 in the evening.

Elsewhere, National Day of Prayer was celebrated at various city schools, halls, churches and convention centers in the central San Joaquin Valley.

Leaders of various religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Roman Catholicism, Islam, Judaism, Unitarian Universalism and Protestantism joined in the celebration of unity in diversity.

The event organizer, pastor of United Christian Church Rev. Natalie Chamberlain, said, “We are a nation of many faiths, and we all have a place in building a larger community. My hope and dream is to begin a more unified community, where people not only tolerate each another, but also have good understanding of one another.”