REEDLEY, CA: City of Reedley Council in California celebrated its 100th anniversary of incorporation in 2013 with its first historic Hindu invocation on April 22 evening, containing verses from world’s oldest existing scripture.
Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, delivered the opening prayer from ancient Sanskrit scriptures before the City Council. After Sanskrit delivery, he then read the English translation of the prayer. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and root language of Indo-European languages.
Zed sprinkled few drops of water from river Ganga of India and recited from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, besides lines from Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita .
A copy of Bhagavad-Gita was presented to Mayor Robert O. Beck, who introduced and thanked Zed to the Council members.
Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.
Reedley, whose tagline is “The World’s Fruit Basket”, is a multi-cultural and friendly town along the Kings River. It hosts annual Reedley Fiesta, Electrical Christmas Parade and Street Faire. Ray Soleno and Nicole R. Zieba are Mayor Pro Tempore and City Manager respectively of Reedley, claimed to be located in the richest intensive agricultural production area in the world.
Its notable residents include author Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, Olympian Lacy Barnes Mileham and baseball player Vic Lombardi.
India Post News Service
