Celebrations of faith, culture set for four area religious groups

After a long, hot summer that often involves more secular than spiritual pursuits, Utahns of four different religious persuasions are hosting annual celebrations of their faith and culture.

Greek Orthodox Christians, Jews, Muslims and Hindus all will gather in various churches, mosques, synagogues and temples either today or during the coming week — some to honor traditions that date back centuries and others to celebrate their place in today's increasingly multi-cultural Beehive State.

• The 32nd annual Greek Festival is under way at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, 279 S. 300 West, and will run through Sunday, offering the "atmosphere of a quaint Greek village (that) will surely draw visitors in," according to Nick Varanakis, president of the parish council for the Greek Orthodox church of Greater Salt Lake.

Started in 1975 as a two-day event after 40 years of being a small, one-day bazaar, the success that year prompted a move to a three-day festival in 1976 to accommodate the increasing numbers of visitors. This year, the festival has grown again to a four-day event that began on Thursday, featuring traditional Greek foods, folk dances and both 5K and 10K races, which were scheduled to begin this morning.

Some years the festival has drawn crowds approaching 50,000, many of whom tour the cathedral to see the iconography and architecture of the restored building while listening to hymns sung by Orthodox choirs. The festival runs through 11 tonight and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3 per person.

• Utah's Jewish community will join with synagogues worldwide in celebration of Rosh Hashanah beginning Wednesday.

The annual celebration of the Jewish New Year begins at sundown and initiates a 10-day period of worship and reflection known as the "High Holy Days," ending with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which begins at sundown Sept. 21 and ends Sept. 22.

Yom Kippur and the holy days that precede it require followers of Judaism to take an inventory of the soul and to be willing to transform their path and life. Teachings stress they ask forgiveness from those they might have wronged the previous Jewish year.

Orthodox Rabbi Benny Zippel of Chabad Lubavitch of Utah said that, during Rosh Hashanah, Jews "cut a deal with God, so to speak. We make new year's resolutions upon ourselves to improve our ways, and in return, we ask God to bless us and our children with health and sustenance throughout the coming year.