NEW YORK: Diwali, the most prominent of Hindu festivals, may soon be proclaimed as one of Utah State festivals.

Rajan Zed, the Hindu priest who has been conducting opening prayers in various state senates across the nation over the last one year, presented a memorandum to Utah Governor Jon Huntsman at his office in Salt Lake City Feb 14 requesting to proclaim Diwali as one of State of Utah festivals, replying to which Governor Huntsman said, "of course, why not".

Huntsman told Zed that Utah was the only State in the US where Diwali had been celebrated in Governor’s mansion for the last three years. Huntsman told Zed that he had adopted a daughter from India, visited various temples in India, kept "nimbu-chutney" in his refrigerator all the time, and showed Zed a large handmade folk painting from India displayed in his office.

Zed, who met Governor Huntsman after reciting first Hindu prayer of Utah Senate Feb 14, presented a copy of "Srimad Bhagwad Geeta" to him on the occasion. About 900 Hindu families currently reside in Utah.

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