“In a remarkable interfaith gesture, northern Nevada clergy accorded reception to distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed in Reno on July 22 evening to honor his recent opening of United States House of Representatives in Washington DC with a prayer.
Besides Zed, other speakers included Nevada Senator Greg Brower, Sparks Mayor Geno R. Martini, Nevada Solicitor General C. Wayne Howle, Reno City Council Member Sharon Zadra, Nevada Clergy Association President Right Reverend Gene Savoy, Jr., Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno Curia Moderator Reverend Robert W. Chorey, Quorum of the Seventy Member, Saint Anthony Greek, Matthew T. Fisher of Reno Buddhist Center, Youth leader Daniel R. Sanchez and Baha’i teacher Roya Galata.
Rajan Zed was garlanded by Mayor Martini, Bishop Savoy, Father Karcher, Keele and Fisher. Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, in a signed letter to Zed, said: “I am honored that this religious leader is part of the Reno Community and the State of Nevada”. United States Congressman Mark E. Amodei, in a letter to Zed on the occasion, wrote: “Rajan Zed has been a proponent for religious diversity as seen through his continual push for open dialogue and discussion with important and complex issues”.
Zed, speaking on the occasion, stated: We are all looking for the truth and are headed in the same direction. Dialogue brings us mutual enrichment and helps us overcome caricatures and prejudices passed on to us by previous generations. Let us learn from each other and live harmoniously.
NCA President Savoy says that Nevada is proud of Zed’s spreading the message of peace and love nationwide and worldwide through prayer.
Rajan Zed has also read the opening prayer in United States Senate in Washington DC in 2007; besides reading opening prayers in State Senates of Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Indiana, Alaska; State Assemblies/Houses-of-Representatives of Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Alaska; city councils of Phoenix, San Jose, Las Vegas, Fresno, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Hartford (Connecticut); in addition to various other city councils in California, Nevada, Utah, Maryland, Virginia; and county commissions/boards in California, Nevada and Utah. Many cities in USA have named October 25 as “Rajan Zed Day”.
Zed, bestowed with World Interfaith Leader Award, is a global Hindu and interfaith leader, who besides taking up the cause of religion worldwide, has also raised huge voice against the apartheid faced by about 15-million Roma (Gypsies) in Europe.”