NEW YORK: Rajan Zed, who offered Vedic prayers for the first time in the United States Senate in Washington DC, was honoured here by Hindu organisations for his distinguished services to the religion.
Zed, a priest, was yesterday given the Award of Excellence and a plaque which read, "in recognition of selfless and invaluable service to Hindu Sanatan Dharma and Hindus in America," at a Ganesha Temple here during the Hindu Sangathan Diwas celebrations.
The 13th Hindu Sangathan Diwas was jointly organised here by The Hindu Temple Society of North America (HTSNA), Indian American Intellectuals Forum (IAIF) and Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devasthanam. About 40 Hindu/Indian organisations also joined and supported the celebrations.
Former Indian union minister Dr Subramanian Swamy, Dr Frank Morales, President of International Sanatana Dharma Society, Dr Uma Mysorekar, President of HTSNA and Narain Kataria and Arish Sahani, President and Vice President respectively of IAIF, were among those who attended the ceremony.
Zed delivered Hindu prayers in the US Senate, for the first time in its 218 years of existence, on July 12. He also offered Hindu prayers in Nevada State Assembly in March and Nevada State Senate in May this year.
He will recite Hindu prayer in Sanskrit and English in California State Senate at Sacramento on August 27.
