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Recitations from ancient Hindu scriptures reverberated in a Christian church in Nevada on the occasion of Thanksgiving eve service.
Thanksgiving is a major national holiday in the United States when families come together and many churches are open for special services. The first Thanksgiving service by Europeans in North America occurred in 1578 but native people held harvest festivals long before.
Rajan Zed, a prominent Hindu chaplain, read from the Rig Veda, the Upanishad and the Bhagavad Gita in the Trinity Episcopal Church in Reno, Nevada, during the twenty-second Annual Thanksgiving Service of Northwestern Nevada held on Wednesday evening.
Starting with the Gayatri Mantra, Zed read from chapter two of Bhagavad-Gita, talking about actions and their consequences and chapter ten of Rig Veda, praying for unity in resolve and hearts.
His verse from Brahadaranyakopanisad ( Asato ma sad gamaya, Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, Mrityor mamratam gamaya) meaning ''Lead me from the unreal to the Real, Lead me from darkness to Light, Lead me from death to immortality'', was well received by the audience, which comprised people from different faiths.
Various faith traditions in northwestern Nevada came together to share the spirit of love on Thanksgiving, Zed said. Shanti-Shanti, the only Sanskrit rock band of the world, performed on the occasion.
Right Reverend Gene Savoy Junior, the Bishop of the International Community of Christ, discussed the issue of 'Giving Thanks in a Challenging World'. A procession of the clergy, dressed in an array of religious garb, was held before the service.