Various faiths are coming together to have a picnic in Nevada’s capital Carson City (USA).

Christians (various denominations), Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Baha’is, and others, besides sharing food, music, games, prayers, a “Peace Cake”, etc., will also try to find similarities between their diverse traditions at second annual “Heal the World Interfaith Picnic of Nevada” on July 31, according to Adina Richman Karst, Coordinator.

Heal the World Interfaith Picnic opens with Gayatri Mantra

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed will open the picnic with Gayatri Mantra, considered the most sacred mantra of Hinduism, and prayers from Rig-Veda, Upanishads, and Bhagavad-Gita; ancient Hindu scriptures.

In addition, the participants, who include clergy as well as congregations, will also help the less fortunate by donating food items to area food bank Friends in Service Helping. Clergy and spiritual leaders will address the picnic goers on helping others, “treating others as we want to be treated”, etc. Picnic’s goal is to donate 1,000 food items. A raffle for gift baskets will support charities Carson City Animal Shelter, the Wildland Fuels Reduction Project, and Heifer International.

Picnic will be held at Mills Park from one to five pm and Karst expects about 500 participants and is urging each one to bring at least one food item for donation.

Participating organizations include First United Methodist Church of Carson City, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, Unity of the Sierra, Universal Society of Hinduism, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Temple Bat Yam, Northern Nevada Muslim Community, Reno Buddhist Center, St. Gall Catholic Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Family, Baha’i Faith of Carson City, Center for Spiritual Living in Carson City, Padma Rigdzin Ling Buddhist Center, etc.

Rajan Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, stresses that all religions should work together for a just and peaceful world. Dialogue would bring us mutual enrichment, Zed adds.

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