Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — The multicultural citizenry of Salt Lake Valley will be on full display this weekend as performers representing countries across the world gather for a festival at the Gateway shopping center.
A Celebration of Cultural Diversity Multiethnic Performing Arts Festival will take place Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free festival will feature food, dance and music performances.
"The purpose is to bring these people together, enjoy each other's finest cultural presentations, to make friends and promote goodwill and mutual understanding," said Ghulam Hasnain, who founded both the festival and Salt Lake American Refugee Services.
The festival is in its 21st year, and Hasnain says it has only grown with time. In recent years, the event has drawn a crowd of about 1,000 people.
Performances will range from Japanese drums and Jazz music to Irish, Indian, and Mexican dance numbers.
"We include everybody," Hasnain said. "When I say multiethnic, it's not just minority groups being included. Everybody is there."
Festival schedule
- 11 a.m. — Heartbeat drums
- 11:30 a.m. — Ballet Folklorico de las Americas
- 12 p.m. — Somali singer Kadija Hiraan
- 12:15 p.m. — Keynote speaker Dulce Díez, health equity director of the Utah Department of Health & Human Services
- 12:30 p.m. — Japanese Kenshi Taiko Drummers
- 1 p.m. — Divya School of Dance from India
- 1:30 p.m. — Mariachi Guzman
- 2 p.m. — Rinceoiri Don Spraoi Irish dancers
- 2:30 p.m. — Eastern Arts Central Asian dancers
- 3 p.m. — Salt Lake City Saints Jazz
Hasnain, who is originally from Northern India, came up with the idea for the festival while participating in interfaith conferences. Although he appreciated being able to introduce others to the tenets of his Muslim faith and discuss how it has been treated in the U.S., he realized those conferences mostly catered to academics.
"I'm saying to myself, what is a good way to reach out to the general public and the community, not to the intellectuals, the specialists, the journalists or the politicians," he said. "And realized it's culture. That's what inspired me."
After two decades, 2023 will be Hasnain's last year running the festival. He's already in the process of passing the reins to Emerald Hills Institute, a nonprofit that promotes interfaith and multicultural dialogues.
It's a bittersweet transition, but Hasnain said he's been touched by the support to keep the festival going.
"That is the ultimate compliment, in my opinion," he said. "It would have been rather sad if it had died a sudden death, and that would make sense if it wasn't adding any value. But I thought it was. The performers thought it was, and I can see that because they come back again and again."
Hasnain is moving out of state to be closer to family, but that won't stop him from taking a seat in the audience next year.
"I'll get to sit back and watch all of these folks perform because I love it, I do enjoy performing arts," he said. "Barring acts of God, I want to be here with them as they conduct the event."
Most recent Multicultural Utah stories
Related topics
Sydnee Chapman Gonzalez
