Christian-Muslim-Buddhist-Jewish Leaders to Honor Hindu Statesman Zed

      

In a remarkable interfaith gesture, Nevada clergy belonging to various religions and denominations is coming together to honor fellow Nevadan acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who was recently invited to European Parliament to promote interfaith dialogue.

Christian (various denominations), Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Baha'i, Native American, etc., religious leaders in northern Nevada will gather for an "interfaith clergy reception in honor of interfaith leader Rajan Zed's European Parliament visit" in Reno (Nevada) on January seven. Various political, government, community, and student leaders of the region are also participating.

Announcement by the Right Reverend Gene Savoy Jr., President of Nevada Clergy Association and Head Bishop of International Community of Christ, in this regard says: "It is a matter of great pride and honor for all of us that Rajan Zed was invited by the President of the European Parliament (EP), Hans-Gert Pottering, for a meeting to promote interfaith dialogue. Zed, who is president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, met with President Pottering in his Brussels (Belgium) office on December 10th. This was the first major formal visit of a Hindu leader to the EP during the current European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (EYID). Various other world religious leaders who visited the EP as part of EYID include Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew, the Dalai Lama, the Grand Mufti of Syria, and Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks".

Rajan Zed (extreme right) meeting with professors of religion at prestigious Leuven Catholic University in Belgium.

The National Association of Interchurch and Interfaith Families will present their recently announced "World Interfaith Leader Award" on the occasion to Zed. Various other organizations, including Nevada Art of Living Foundation, River School, will also honor him. Shanti Shanti, the only Sanskrit rock band of the world, will deliver a specially tailored performance on the occasion, which includes "*Ave Maria*" (a traditional Christian prayer) in Sanskrit and hymns from *Rig-Veda *(oldest existing scripture of the world dated around 1,500 BCE). Sanskrit is considered a sacred language, the language of the gods, by Hindus.

Signed by Robert M. Larkin, Chairman of Washoe County Commission and with official seal, Washoe County in Nevada (USA) has issued a Resolution highligting Zed's meeting with President of European Parliament.

Rajan Zed has recited groundbreaking first Hindu opening prayer in United States Senate in Washington DC, besides historic first Hindu prayers in various state legislatures of USA. He is one of the panelists for "On Faith", a prestigious interactive conversation on religion produced jointly by Newsweek and washingtonpost.com. An internationally distinguished Croatian fashion designer, Mandali Mendrilla, recently dedicated a line of designer shirts from her atelier collection to Zed as an honor.