Community Across America
18 India Post
February 1, 2013
www.indiapost.com
Hindu mantras open San Jose City Council SONIA SIDHU India Post News Service
SAN JOSE: The tenth largest in USA, City Council of San Jose in California started its day on January 15 afternoon session with Hindu mantras, containing verses from world's oldest existing scripture. Founded in 1777, this was probably for the first time that the Council reverberated with Vedic Mantras recited by Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism. After Sanskrit delivery, he then read the English translation of the prayer. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and root language of IndoEuropean languages. The Mantras recited were from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, besides lines from Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), both ancient Hindu scriptures. He
Rajan Zed delivering the Hindu invocation of San Jose City Council. On the extreme right is Mayor Chuck Reed
started and ended the prayer with "Om", the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work. Reciting from Brahadaranyakopanishad, Rajan
Zed said, "Asato ma sad gamaya, Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, Mrtyor ma amrtam gamaya", which he then translated as "Lead me from the unreal to the Real, Lead me from darkness to Light, and Lead me from death to Immortality."
Reciting from Bhagavad-Gita, he urged council members to keep the welfare of others always in mind. Council members, city employees and public were seen standing in prayer mode with their heads bowed during this invoca-
tion. Wearing saffron colored attire, a rudraksh mala (rosary), and traditional sandal paste tilak (religious mark) on the forehead, Zed sprinkled few drops of water from river Ganga of India, considered holy by Hindus, around the podium before the prayer. Zed presented a copy of Bhagavad-Gita to Mayor Chuck Reed, while Council member Ash Kalra introduced and thanked Zed. San Jose was California's first civilian settlement and the site of its first state capital. Its taglines include "Among America's Most International Cities", "World Class Climate, Parks & Entertainment" and it claims to be recognized as an international epicenter of arts, culture, and technology. Madison Nguyen and Debra Figone are the Vice Mayor and City Manager respectively of San Joe, whose only 44% people speak English at home.
Bay Area Tamil Manram celebrates Pongal
Cont’d from page 17
Pongal signals the end of the traditional farming season, giving farmers a break from their monotonous routine. Farmers also perform puja to crops, signaling the end of
the traditional farming season. It also sets the pace for a series of festivals to follow in a calendar year. Bay Area Tamil Manram has been serving the San Francisco Bay area since 1980. It was started as a group of like-minded Tamils to socialize
and has grown into a strong organization of what it is now. Pongal festivities were started with invocation to Goddess Tamil, introductory speech by Jayakumar Muthalagu, President of the organization. Anu Natarajan, Vicemayor of Fremont was the chief guest. She shared her childhood experience and thanked the association for celebrating the festival in traditional style, thereby giving an opportunity to the kids to know our roots. She said it was a highly laudable effort by the organization to bring back the festival the way it's celebrated in Tamil Nadu. Karakaatam, Silambaattam, Uriadithal, poetry recital, dance, drama were organized as a part of the festivities. Kids of Bay area showcased their talents through
dance and singing performance. Most of the performances were based on the theme of "Pongal". Tamil Manram is committed to the growth of Tamil cultural activi-
ties in the Bay area. Tamil Manram regularly conducts children events and encourages kids to learn Tamil language and Tamil culture.