Hindus have commended international London Luton Airport (LLA) in England for launching “prayer room”. Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA), said that having a “prayer room” (near departure gate 20) at the airport was a step in the positive direction. Zed said that it would help infuse spirituality into the atmosphere of this important airport and would provide a place for reflection and prayer for passengers, employees, visitors, and others using the airport.
Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that prayer/worship to God was highly important in Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents, and it would be nice to have Hindu prayer service at LLA “prayer room” so that Hindu passengers did not miss their daily worship rituals/rites while travelling through; which might include recitation of texts, repetition of mantras and dhayan (meditation).
Hindus would appreciate if a corner of this “prayer room” had murtis (statues) of popular deities, copies of sacred scriptures, a traditional bell and recorded devotional music; and once-a-week kirtan and arti session was held in it, Rajan Zed noted.
He indicated that LLA should also seriously consider providing “yoga room” for the passengers if it wanted to help reduce their stress levels and be a “world-class” airport. Many international airports already have yoga spaces.
Rajan Zed urged all major airports across the world to make a provision for sacred space in the shape of “prayer room” and a “yoga room”. Many airports reportedly already do have multi-faith prayer-rooms.
Over one million people flew through LLA in October, which is currently undergoing a £110m development project. Nick Barton is CEO of LLA, fifth largest passenger airport of United Kingdom which opened in 1938.