Interfaith service at US varsity to include Hindu prayers

The Second Annual Interfaith Baccalaureate Service of the University of Nevada-Reno, to be held next week, will include readings from Hindu scriptures and prayers.

The service to be held on March 16 will consist of hymns, readings from scriptures, blessings, teachings, music, prayers, etc, from various religious traditions, including Catholic, Protestant, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Jewish, Rajan Zed, director of Interfaith Relations of Hindu Temple of Northern Nevada and one of the coordinators for this service, said.

In the atmosphere of growing faith pluralism, the interfaith baccalaureate provides students and others involved with an environment for divine contemplation that meets the requirements of society, he said.

Baccalaureate service means a service where a sermon is delivered to the graduating class. The first documented baccalaureate service was said to have been in 1917, with six others organised randomly over the last century.

The last chronicled service was in 1960 and in last May, the first interfaith baccalaureate service was held.

All 2007 graduates, faculty, staff, and family and friends of the 2007 Class have been invited to attend the service.

Besides Zed, other members of the Service Coordination Committee include Rev Chuck Durante, pastor of Our Lady of Wisdom University Catholic Community; and Rev Ruth Hanusa of Campus Christian Association.

They plan to involve more religious and student leaders of diverse faith traditions.