It is my great pleasure to present Keeping Faith: Indian Religions in the United States, the most recent exhibition curated by the Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy.

For the past 38 years, Meridian International Center has created neutral environments that encourage cultural collaboration and international understanding, where individuals from all levels of society can appreciate one another. The Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy employs a unique approach to diplomacy by engaging the public and private sectors in the United States and abroad through exchange programs, educational initiatives, and compelling exhibitions.

Keeping Faith highlights the diverse faith traditions from India that have found their place in the fabric of the United States’ pluralistic society. The photographs in this exhibition—all taken by individuals living here—show how American religious communities form, grow, and interact with one another and the broader public.

I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Secretary of State John F. Kerry for his support of this project, as well as to the Public Affairs staff at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi for their vision in this creative partnership. I am also grateful to our co-curator, Dr. Diana Eck, for her insight and expertise, as well as to her staff at The Pluralism Project at Harvard University.

Lastly, I am delighted to recognize the efforts of the Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy staff for their innovative approach to Keeping Faith, reaching out to organizations and individuals around the country to share images of Indian religions in the United States with viewers in India: Terry K. Harvey, Vice President of Cultural Programs; Lindsay Amini, Director of Cultural Programs; Athena Hsieh, Cultural Programs Coordinator; and Cole Fiala, Cultural Programs Associate.