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Candlelight vigil & multi-faith prayers to honor those who died homeless in Washoe County in 2024
In a remarkable interfaith gesture, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jewish religious leaders of the area are joining together with other concerned citizens at Reno City Plaza on February 10, starting at 05:30 pm, to remember homeless Nevadans who died in Washoe County in 2024. Besides lighting candles in memory of Nevadans who lost their lives in Washoe County while homeless, some from exposure to the elements...Read More |
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Neiman Marcus again removes $940 Lord Ganesha cufflinks after 2nd Hindu protest
Dallas (Texas) headquartered luxury fashion retailer “Neiman Marcus”, which withdrew Hindu deity Ganesha shaped cufflinks in April 2021 after Hindus protested, and later brought these back, has again removed these after second Hindu protest calling it “highly inappropriate”. These $940 Made in USA “Ganesha Cufflinks” were absent from “Neiman Marcus” website when searched today...Read More |
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Designated “Hindu Prayer Room” sought at Brown University
Hindus are urging for a permanent and dedicated Prayer Room at Brown University, a prestigious Ivy League and research institution in Providence (Rhode Island, USA). Brown already has designated Catholic, Muslim and Jewish spaces. Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that Brown should respond to the requirements of Hindu students to...Read More |
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Hindus upset as Neiman Marcus resells $940 Lord Ganesha Cufflinks After 2021 Removal
Dallas (Texas) headquartered luxury fashion retailer “Neiman Marcus”, which removed Hindu deity Ganesha shaped cufflinks in April 2021 after Hindus protested calling these “highly inappropriate”, is again selling these cufflinks. These $940 Made in USA “Ganesha Cufflinks” were available for purchase at “Neiman Marcus” website, when searched today. Zed, who...Read More |
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Hindus urge Dubai Opera to drop culturally insensitive ballet “La Bayadère”
Hindus are urging the Dubai Opera to withdraw “La Bayadère” ballet; scheduled for February 14-16, 2025; which they feel seriously trivializes Eastern religious and other traditions. Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that Dubai Opera, which “aims to build a more vibrant and inclusive society” and whose mission is to “serve, unify, and inspire the community of Dubai and beyond by celebrating the...Read More
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Perth City Council, which opens with Christian prayer, Rebuffs Hindu prayer request
The City Council of Perth (Australia), which has been opening its monthly meetings with a “non-denominational Christian” prayer since at least 1997, has turned down request to have Hindu opening-prayer in an upcoming session. Amy, Quality & Stakeholder Officer of the City of Perth, (responding to distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed’s request to Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas for scheduling him to read the opening-prayer in the Council), wrote in an email: Currently there is no available opportunity…Read More |
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Walmart quickly removes 74 varieties of Lord Ganesh underwear
after Hindu protest
Bentonville (Arkansas, USA) headquartered multinational retail corporation Walmart removed all 74 varieties of underwear carrying the image of Hindu deity Ganesh, after Hindus protested calling these “highly inappropriate”. When searched for “Ganesh underwear” at Walmart.com today, it said...Read More |
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Upset Hindus urge Walmart to withdraw 74 varieties of Lord Ganesh Underwear & apologize
Upset Hindus are urging Bentonville (Arkansas, USA) headquartered multinational retail corporation Walmart for immediate withdrawal of all 74 varieties of underwear carrying the image of Hindu deity Ganesh; calling it highly inappropriate. Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that Lord Ganesh was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to adorn one’s...Read More |
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UK's Antrim Newtownabbey Borough, which opens with Bible reading, Rebuffs Hindu Prayer Request
UK's Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, which has been opening its monthly meetings with “Bible Reading and Prayer”, has turned down request to have Hindu opening-prayer in an upcoming session. Richard Baker, Chief Executive of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, in an email response to distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed...Read More |
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Hindus seek incorporation of Gita wisdom
along with Bible in Texas schools
Hindus feel that it is fine to incorporate Bible teachings in Texas elementary public schools as long as wisdom from ancient Sanskrit scripture Bhagavad-Gita is also included. Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who has read invocations in Fort Worth City Council and US Senate and US House of Representatives, in a statement in Nevada today, said that Bhagavad-Gita was...Read More |
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Rajan Zed to be feted for record number of invocations in legislative bodies all over USA
In a remarkable interfaith gesture, Nevada based but globally active distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed will be publicly honored on September 24 in Reno (Nevada) for his record creating invocations delivered in 312 different legislative bodies in 44 states of USA and Canada, including United States Senate and US House of Representatives. Various Christian (Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, etc.), Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, Jewish, Baha’i...Read More |
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Hindus congratulate LDS Church president on his 100th birthday
In a remarkable interfaith gesture, Hindus have congratulated Dr. Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on his upcoming 100th birthday on September nine. Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, wished Nelson grace, health and good times ahead. Nelson’s life has been an inspiration for many and we pray that he be blessed with peace, love and joy; he adds...Read More |
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NAACP announces Religious Leadership Award for
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) of Reno Sparks has announced the Religious Leadership Award for distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed. Patricia Y. Gallimore, President Reno Sparks NAACP and NAACP National Board Director, in an email to Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism...Read More |
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Hindu statesman Rajan Zed to open US Senate with Hindu prayer for second time on July 30
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who read the invocation (opening-prayer) in the United States (US) Senate in Washington DC on July 12, 2007; has been scheduled to deliver the opening-prayer again in the Senate on July 30. Besides US Senate and US House of Representatives; Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, has read Hindu opening-prayers in 310 other legislative bodies in 44 US states and Canada; including...Read More |
NRI Hindu
Prayer in Senate, Disrupted and Shouted Down by "Christian
patriots"
- NRI Rajan Zed, a Hindu chaplain of Reno, Nevada, became nervous
and uncomfortable
- Very soon, he regained his footing then continued with his
invocation.
WASHINGTON, July 12, 2007
Ashok Aggarwal
For the very first time, NRI Rajan Zed, a Hindu chaplain, was
invited to perform the invocation for the Senate on July 12, at
approximately 9:30am. Just before Zed was able to begin, though,
three individuals- Ante Pavkovic, Kathy Pavkovic, and Kristen
Sugar from the Christian Right anti-abortion group Operation Save
America began shouting:
- "Lord Jesus, forgive us father for allowing a prayer
of the wicked, which is an abomination in your sight. This is
an abomination. We shall have no other gods before you."
Senator Bob Casey, the presiding officer for the morning,
immediate asked the sergeant-at-arms to restore order. The sergeants
were pushing them out .....Full
Story
Nevada Hindu chaplain,
NRI will open Senate Session with a Hindu prayer on July 12
Reno, Nevada, June 26, 2007
Ashok Sharma
NRI Rajan Zed, a Hindu chaplain, will read Hindu prayer at the
opening of United States Senate in Washington, DC on July 12,
2007. This is the first time in its history, any Hindu prayer
will be delivered in the US Senate since its formation in 1789.
- James Kirkland became the first African-American to deliver
the opening prayer in 1965.
- Six years later Wilmina Rowland was the first woman to pray
on the Senate floor.
- In 1992, Wallace Mohammed became the first Muslim leader to
deliver the invocation.
According to local news papers, he said he plans to start and
end the prayers with "'OM,' the mystical syllable containing
the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude
religious work."
While the prayer will draw from Hindu religious texts, Zed said
it will be "universal in approach."
Inviting guest chaplains to open Senate sessions dates back to
at least 1857, according to SHO records. In that year, all sessions
were opened by guest chaplains, because the Senate did not appoint
an official chaplain.
According to US Senate website descrine that, "…Throughout
the years, the United States Senate has honored the historic separation
of Church and State, but not the separation of God and State…During
the past two hundred and seven years, all sessions of the Senate
have been opened with prayer, strongly affirming the Senate’s
faith in God as Sovereign Lord of our Nation..." Usually
the Senate Chaplain delivers the opening prayer, but sometimes
guest chaplains are invited from all over the country to read
the prayer. According to a Senate Chaplain Office communiqué,
the purpose of the opening prayer is to seek God on behalf of,
and for the Senators and the prayer should affirm our rich heritage
as a Nation "under God".
NRI Rajan Zed, read an opening prayer to the Nevada
State Assembly in March and May
On March 19, NRI Rajan Zed read an opening prayer to the Nevada
State Assembly and again on May 7 with the Nevada State Senate.
When Zed read from the Rig-Veda, it was covered by international
broadcaster Voice of America and numerous other American publications.
This is the first time any Hindu prayer is delivered in the Nevada
State Senate since its formation in 1864, says Pastor Albert Tilstra,
Chaplain Coordinator for Nevada Legislature.
At the opening of the Nevada Senate session, after President
of the Senate, Lieutenant Governor Brian K. Krolicki, introduced
Rajan Zed and he started Hindu prayers, all Senators stood up
and listened intently while standing. "This day of May 07,
2007, is an illustrious day for all Nevadans and memorable day
for us when opening prayers from ancient Hindu scriptures are
being read in this grand hall of democracy," Zed said during
the prayer.
Zed led with prayers from the Rig Veda, and the Bhagavad-Gita,
and concluded by chanting “Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,”
which translates as “Peace, Peace, Peace be unto all.”
Zed prayed before the Nevada senators:
- May we be protected together.
- May we be nourished together.
- May we work together with great vigor.
- May our study be enlightening.
- May no obstacle arise between us.
Zed said that kind of support and interest in other religions
not only strengthens a person's appreciations for their religion,
but it also is beneficial to creating a culture of peace.
"I think it makes you spiritually strong and helps you in
your search for the truth," Zed said.
Zed, who wore a traditional sandalpaste mark on his forehead
and , translated all the Hindu prayers into English.
According reporter, he said, "we don't have a temple here.
We have what's called the Hindu Temple of Northern Nevada, and
we are raising funds to build a temple. The closest temples are
in Yuba City, Sacramento and Livermore. We have over 500 families
here in Northern Nevada. I moved to Nevada in 1997 from California"
According to Ms Chely of Workforce Development & Continuing
Education, Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno, Nevada, he
teaches classes at Truckee Meadows Community College on Hinduism
and Hindu gods and goddesses. Next class will start from Nov.
2007.
It is also connfirmed that he teaches these classes just impart
information and and he's not seeking to convert students to hinduism
Mr. Sudesh Verma from Reno said, he work as a chaplain in area
hospitals in Northern Nevada. He attend the meetings also of all
the other chaplains of different religions.

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Rajan Zed, a Hindu chaplain will open Senate Session
with a Hindu prayer on July 12
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