Hindu prayer at US Senate sparks Christian protest

HISTORICAL MOMENT: Former journalist and priest, Rajan Zed delivered the minute-and-a-half long prayer.

ibnlive.com is on mobile now. Read news, watch videos
be a Citizen Journalist. Log on to m.ibnlive.com NOW!

Related Stories

• First Hindu prayer in US Senate disrupted; 3 held

• Mangalore tense as cops, protestors clash

• Hindu protests intensify against The Love Guru

Top Headlines

Top Videos

Most Popular

• Gujarat dry status an ideological hangover? 

• India dry, Pawar says well-stocked for 13 months | Drought diary 

• Manmohan, Gilani fix up meeting without a date 

• India puts it in writing: Pak planned 26/11 

• Burger King apologises to Hindus for offensive ad 

• SC takes up plea against gay sex, issues notice 

• Suspected Dawood aide acquitted in fake currency case 

• Another 'lover' arrested at Sania Mirza's house 

• Mumbai, Pune and Delhi face 30-40 pc water shortage 

• Politicos get into the ABC of Varun's Z-plus security 

• MP drought-hit 

• Sariska tigers siblings, incest dangerous: Experts 

• 2016 Games contenders go all out to woo voters 

• Watch: Zardari admits to nurturing terrorists 

• SC takes up plea against gay sex, issues notice 

• CJ: Delhi-based builders make off with money 

• Pune reels under 40 per cent water cuts 

• RTI against college lands DCE student in trouble 

• Sports officer attacked for fighting corruption 

• Watch: Ferreira talks about sports and Union Budget 

• Forbes India: 20 stocks you must own 

• Dry state Gujarat reels under hooch tragedy 

• Burger King apologises to Hindus for offensive ad 

• India puts it in writing: Pak planned 26/11 

• Army honours Mohanlal with Lieutenant Colonel post 

• Another 'lover' arrested at Sania Mirza's house 

• MP drought-hit 

• Sariska tigers siblings, incest dangerous: Experts 

• Mamata dismisses corporate structure for railways 

• Mysore: PFI activists clash with police, lathicharged 

Photogallery

Find us on Facebook | Join IBNLive community

Stay ahead with G-Talk Buddy | Click now!

Washington DC: History was made in the American Congress on Thursday as the US Senate opened its daily session with Hindu prayers.

Former journalist and priest, Rajan Zed wearing the traditional saffron robe, delivered the minute-and-a-half long prayer, which was translated into English as per the rules of the Senate Chaplain.

But before the ceremony could begin, a small group of vocal Christian protestors shouted angry slogans from the visitor's gallery right above the Senate floor.

The demonstrators including two women and one man were arrested in the Senate visitors' gallery for disruption of Congress, a misdemeanor.

On their website this week, the American Family Association also criticised the idea of a Hindu clergyman delivering the prayer.

Meanwhile being given the opportunity to conduct the prayer, Zed said, “It's a great honor for me and Hindus all over the world.”

Nevada-based Zed has performed similar ceremonies in the State Assembly and Senate and traveled to Washington after getting an invitation from Senator Harry Reid to do the same on Capitol Hill.

For almost 200 years the US Senate has started its workdays with prayers usually delivered by the in-house Senate Chaplain.

But equally old is the tradition where Senators invite guest chaplains from their home states to host the prayer ceremony.

(With CNN-IBN inputs)