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Religious statesman Rajan Zed warmly welcomed in Idaho

Distinguished religious statesman Rajan Zed was warmly welcomed in Boise, which he visited to open the Idaho State Senate on March three with its first historical Hindu invocation since Idaho acquired statehood in 1890.

This prayer in Idaho Senate, upper house in the State Legislature, contained verses from Rig-Veda, the oldest existing scripture of the mankind still in common use, besides Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), both ancient Hindu scriptures. Zed started and ended the prayer with “Om”, the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work.

Rajan Zed with Idaho Secretary of State Lawerence Denney (right).

Rajan Zed met and was warmly welcomed by Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter, Lieutenant Governor Brad Little, Secretary of State Lawerence Denney, House of Representatives Speaker Scott C. Bedke, Senate President Pro Tempore Brent Hill, Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise Vicar General Joseph A. daSilva and Chancellor Marcella M. Wilske, Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church Priest Nektarios Serfes, Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel Rabbi Daniel B. Fink and Boise Institute for Buddhist Studies Director Dan Black.

Zed is a global Hindu and interfaith leader, who besides taking up the cause of religion worldwide, has also raised huge voice against the apartheid faced by about 15-million Roma (Gypsies) in Europe. Bestowed with World Interfaith Leader Award; Zed is Senior Fellow and Religious Advisor to Foundation for Religious Diplomacy, Spiritual Advisor to National Association of Interchurch & Interfaith Families, etc. He was invited by President of European Parliament in Brussels (Belgium) for a meeting to promote interfaith dialogue.

Idaho, with nickname "The Gem State" and tagline "Adventures in Living", claims to be number one national producer of potatoes, trout, Austrian winter peas and lentils; and is known for its pristine wilderness, Lava Hot Springs and Sun Valley ski resort.