Exhibit portrays Sharon’s traditions

Called “Sharon’s Many Traditions,’’ the exhibit opening today celebrates the town’s religious and cultural differences, according to the Sharon Pluralism Network, whose members come from many local groups.

A busy commuter town of 18,000 residents, Sharon cites its diversity and openness to newcomers prominently on the town website, noting local efforts to “foster cooperative understanding among several varieties of Christian and Jewish congregations, an Islamic mosque . . . adherents of Eastern religions,’’ and sponsors of the town’s Martin Luther King Day celebrations.

In contrast to the melting pot image of America as a country where people from all over the world blend together, pluralism embraces the idea that Americans should hold on to some of their differences because “people are enriched by people different from them’’ and society benefits as a result, said Beth Hoke of the Pluralism Network.

“But diversity is a challenge, too. People don’t always know how to approach people who are different,’’ Hoke said. Activities such as this exhibit bring people together in “non-threatening, fun’’ ways, she said.

Organizers decided to ask individuals and groups to send photos of their traditions - whether rooted in religion, culture, or a single family’s practices - and ended up with 80 photos from 50 sources, including the town’s Beech Tree Park Committee, Moose Hill Sanctuary, a local Scout troop, and the Chinese New Year Committee.

Many of the photos show religious sanctuaries. A line of girls in white dresses wearing crowns with lighted candles take part in a Santa Lucia Day festival established at the town’s Unitarian church by a member from Sweden.

Children and adults gather around a table filled with lighted menorahs for a Hanukkah celebration at Congregation Klal Yisrael. The late Rev. Robert Bullock, who was involved in establishing the town’s Interfaith Action group, is shown presiding at a Roman Catholic christening ceremony.

In a photo taken by Roger Bridgeman, light shines through stained-glass windows in a New Orleans church, where members of the town’s First Congregational Church traveled to help with a reconstruction effort.

Prakask Teli’s photo shows two young dancers rehearsing for a performance at Sharon’s Beech Tree Park for Dussehra, a popular Hindu festival that celebrates the day Lord Rama killed the demon-king Ravana and rescued his abducted wife. The holiday signifies the triumph of good over evil.

Avni Kacker contributed a photo of a home tradition in which Dussehra is celebrated by gathering common tools of livelihood and education (a calculator, a dictionary) and tying them with a sacred red string.

Other photos depict traditions with a civic message. Two little boys wearing parkas over their jackets and ties hold the cans they’ve gathered on an Easter “can hunt’’ for a food pantry. In another, a woman reads from the US Constitution beneath a waving flag outside a white clapboard church.

Family tradition is depicted in the Astrachan family’s celebration of Kentucky Derby Day. You wear “spring attire - which ranges from outlandish hats to seersucker suits,’’ said Andrea Astrachan, and consume traditional fare such as Derby Pie and mint juleps. In another, the Zaniewski family stands in the snow, banging pots to usher in the New Year.

Ilan Fisher’s photo, “Pesach Recipe Through Four Generations,’’ shows great-grandson Noah learning about Passover foods such as matzah-farfel muffins from his mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Organized two years ago, the Sharon Pluralism Network builds on the work of the town’s Interfaith Action Inc. youth program that in previous years put together bridge-building programs such as “Sacred Seasons,’’ a combined celebration of the Jewish high holidays, Islam’s holy month of Ramadan, and the Hindu holiday Navaratri.

“What we learned in the youth program has helped inform the development of the Sharon Pluralism Network as a partnership among town organizations,’’ said Janet Penn, Interfaith Action’s director. Member organizations include the town’s Recreation Department, clergy association, community youth coalition, and the Sharon Adult Center.

Robert Knox can be reached at rc.knox@gmail.com.