Wednesday, December 7 2005 18:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Hindu and Sikh hymns echoed through the Washington National Cathedral as nine world religions filled the building, a usual venue for Presidential prayers and official gatherings at an interfaith concert here.

Led by Washington's Guru Gobind Singh Foundation (GGSF) Executive Director Rajwant Singh, 35 Sikh men and women in spotless white with saffron satin scarves around their necks said opening prayers at the 26th Interfaith Concert held by the Interfaith Conference.

The Kuchipudi Dance Academy represented the Hindu faith as its troupe presented a recital in honour of Lord Shiva.

The Buddhists also took part in the event for the first time, with three Sri Lankan monks from Washington's Buddhist Vihara joining the annual celebrations recently.

More than 1,400 members in the audience also enjoyed interludes of tabla maestro Rajinder Pal Singh, a student of Alla Rakha and Zakir Hussain.

"The Interfaith Conference was born out of the conviction that community is created by diversity and that in diversity is the unity that can change the world," a GGSF statement quoted its Executive Director Clark Lobenstine as saying in his closing comments.

The annual concert aims at bringing together Islamic, Jewish, Hindu, Protestant, Roman Catholic and Sikh communities on a common platform.