Graduate student to represent Sweden in Baha'i Center gardens dedication

Graduate student Gregory Maytan is one of 19 people representing Sweden in the dedication ceremonies of the International Baha'i Center gardens and terraces May 22 in Haifa, Israel. \nA native of Sweden, Maytan said he came to IU for its music program, where he majors in violin performance. Although Maytan lived in Sweden his entire life, he is the child of two American citizens, which makes him an American as well. He said his parents moved to Sweden to spread the Baha'i faith. \nThe ceremony will be Maytan's second time visiting the International Baha'i Center. He was last there in 1996 with his family before the project was finished, and he said he is looking forward to seeing the final touch-ups. \nMaytan said he feels honored to be one of 19 people representing Sweden in the dedication ceremonies of the gardens and terraces in May. He entered a lottery drawing and priority was generally given to young people, Maytan said. \nRepresentatives from 200 countries will participate in the ceremony.\nMaytan said he feels the ceremony "will demonstrate the practicality of the vision of a united world," which he said is a focus of the Baha'i faith. Although Maytan does not know what he will do for the dedication ceremony, he knows that a composer was commissioned to write a symphony for it.\nHe said the people from around the world will stand at the bottom of the gardens as they light up. The ceremony will be broadcast on television stations around the world through satellite feed. \n"I hope to have a wonderful, amazing, uplifting experience that will hopefully provide an inspiration for me throughout the rest of my life," Maytan said. \nAccording to the official Baha'i Web site, the 19 gardens took more than 10 years to build and cost approximately $250 million. They are located on the side of Mount Carmel. \n The Web site said the gardens were made to be "offered to the world as a reflection of the Baha'i standard of beauty, peace and harmony." The gardens surround the Baha'i Temple, the most holy place in the Baha'i faith. \n "The gardens are a beautiful edition to the city of Hafia," said Bloomington resident Sara Hatch, a believer in the Baha'i faith. Hatch said the gardens around the International Baha'i Center have much spiritual and governmental importance to the followers of the Baha'i faith, who are encouraged to get on the five to six year waiting list and make the pilgrimage to Mount Carmel. \n According to the Baha'i world news Web site, the gardens will be open to the public free of charge after the ceremony.