Salt Lake Muslim festival aims to educate, celebrate

Nearly five years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Ghulam Hasnain realizes that some Americans still are confused and even scared of the Muslim culture and religion.

But the animosity from the Western world didn't start because of the deadly plane crashes.

"That attitude, some of it is ingrained," said Hasnain, the founder and president of the Salt Lake American Muslim Festival. "It's all documented in our literature. These classics document our attitude."

He said the stereotypical feelings toward the Muslim world that flared after Sept. 11 also were manifested in "documents that go back hundreds of years, if not thousands."

The fourth annual festival kicked off Saturday, and Hasnain explains that his aim is to educate people through various cultural demonstrations, like song, food and dance. Activities don't stop there: Hasnain opens the festival to all cultures, with back-to-back performers and films at the two-day celebration.

Guests over the weekend heard a chapter from the Quran, as well as the "Star Spangled Banner." They had food choices like the Iraq kebab or Thai curry. And they saw groups of Japanese drummers and break dancers.

But most of all, the festival brings people together to learn about a new culture, free of discrimination, said Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake. Litvack has come to the festival since its inception, and this year he brought his son, Gabriel.

"This isn't just a festival for fun," he said. "Ghulam's greater vision ...is the dialogue and bringing together the community. As we all know, a community doesn't exist and continue to thrive on its own. It takes work."

John Renteria, president of Centro Civico Mexicano, agreed. Cultural festivals are a learning experience for the community, he said.

"It's a way for us to all get to (teach) each other about who we are — educate us about what we are, who we represent and for us all to better understand and accept and respect our differences and the diversities that we represent."

Hasnain moved to the United States from his native India in 1967 for college. When he moved to Utah in 1996, he realized the Muslim community in the Beehive State needed a voice. He started the festival, not to push the Muslim religion, but to promote understanding of Muslim culture.

It's important to speak up about a culture, he said, especially as Utah grows and becomes an increasingly diverse state.

"Surely, it is the place as we've all come together. Utah has really become what the American dream is, and that is the melting pot," said South Ogden Mayor George Garwood. He added that he came to the festival to represent Utah's African-American population.

The Salt Lake American Muslim Festival continues today from 1 to 5 p.m. at Washington Square in front of the Salt Lake City building grounds, at 451 S. 200 East. For more information, visit saltlakeamericanmuslim.com.

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