Hindu mantras & Jewish prayers opened Nevada Earth Day Celebrations

Nevada Earth Day 2010 celebrations opened with prayers from ancient Sanskrit and Hebrew scriptures.

Starting with Shanti Mantra in Sanskrit, acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed read Prithvi Sukta (hymn to earth) from Atharva-Veda (composed around 1200 BCE), invoking the Goddess Earth.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, also prayed from Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), where Lord Krishna is quoted as saying, "The brightness of the sun, which lights up the world, the brightness of the moon and of fire-these are my glory. With a drop of my energy I enter the earth and support all creatures. Through the moon, the vessel of life-giving fluid, I nourish all plants."

Rajan Zed also lighted a lamp before the image of Lord Ganesh and sprinkled Gangajal (sacred water from river Ganga of India) before the invocation. ElizaBeth W. Beyer, Rabbi of local Temple Beth Or, read the Jewish prayers.

According to Travis Souza, one of the Directors of Nevada Econet, the organizers of this Earth Day, participants took positive ideas home about environment. Celebrations included live entertainment, crafts, farmers market, display booths by over 100 non-profit and other organizations/agencies/businesses offering energy conserving and sustainable living products, children's activities, vendors selling eco-friendly items, etc.