NEVADA: A student-led multi-faith memorial service in honor of Sandy Hook Elementary School Connecticut victims was held at University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) on December 18 evening.
Organized by UNR’s Interfaith Students Club in collaboration with Rajan Zed, Director Interfaith Relations of Nevada Clergy Association, it included prayers/thoughts by area Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Baha’i leaders besides student leaders and leader of non-believers.
Rajan Zed opened the service with Gayatri Mantra, most sacred mantra of Hinduism from oldest existing scripture of the world Rig-Veda. Held at the UNR campus, the participants recited prayers, offered reflection and read from scriptures in Arabic-Sanskrit-Hebrew-Aramaic besides English. Many in the audience were seen wiping their tears during this interfaith service
Thakur Chakrapani Singh, well-known classical musician from India, paid tribute through Kachhapi Veena while audience accompanied area musician Jim Eaglesmith in his fusion rendition of “Give Peace a Chance”. Various speakers paid tributes to all victims, their families, teachers, administrators, and first responders touched by this tragedy.
“We wanted to show that university and college students all over the country were united in their mourning and support for the victims, their families and others affected by this tragic loss in Connecticut; and religions would come together on issues such as this,” said Daniel R. Sanchez, President of UNR’s Interfaith Students Club,.
Besides Zed and Sanchez, there were twelve other speakers including Navgeet Zed, President, Student Government Association of Truckee Meadows Community College and Nazrul Mojumder, President of Graduate Chapter of Muslim Students’ Association of UNR. Mark Sutliff and Stephanie Walker read statements of United States Senator Dean Heller and United States Congressman Mark Amodei respectively on the occasion.
India Post News Service
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