Sanskrit shlokas as part of Thanksgiving in Nevada

An interfaith Thanksgiving service was held on Wednesday, at the Sparks United Methodist Church, with many religions coming together to pray. Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Baha'i and Native American prayers were read out in the service.

CJ: Correspondent

Sat, Nov 28, 2009 17:19:24 IST

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united states news :

IN AN important interfaith gesture, north western Nevada celebrated its 24th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service on Wednesday, November 25 at the Sparks United Methodist Church, with various religions and denominations coming together to pray.

Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Baha’i and Native American prayers were read on the occasion, giving thanks to God. Participants included United Methodist pastor Tom Butler, Greek Orthodox Protopresbyter George C Bratiotis, Catholic chancellor Matthew Cunningham, Episcopal rector Laurie Chappelle, Jewish rabbi Teri Appleby, Buddhist priest William Bartlett, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints elder Clair Earl, Imam Abdul Rahim Barghouthi, Native American spirituality teacher Irwin Sharp Fish, Bahai singer Roya Galata and International Community of Christ Bishop Gene Savoy Jr.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed recited from ancient Hindu scriptures Rig-Veda, Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gitain Sanskrit and then translated into English. Zed, who is the president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, read from Taittiriya Upanishad “Om saha naavavatu, Saha nau bhunaktu, Saha viiryan karavaavahai, Tejasvi naavadhiitamastu, Maa vidhvishhaavahai” and then gave the English translation as: “May we be protected together, May we be nourished together, May we work together with great vigor, May our study be enlightening, May no obstacles arise between us”.

The food items collected on the occasion were donated to Food Bank of Northern Nevada and monetary donations collected went to Family Promise. Thanksgiving, a national holiday in USA, has been an annual tradition since 1863, when people gather to give thanks primarily to God.

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