Santee, California becomes 9th city to declare Oct 25 as “Rajan Zed Day”

City of Santee in California has become the ninth city in USA to declare October 25 as “Rajan Zed Day” after religious statesman Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism and lives in Reno.

Cities of Hartford (Connecticut), Taylorsville (Utah), Madera (California), Sparks (Nevada), Chowchilla (California), Sanger (California), Exeter (California) and Tulare (California) have already declared October 25 as “Rajan Zed Day”. City of Reno has also proclaimed a day in Zed’s recognition twice in the past.

Proclamation, signed by Santee Mayor Randy Voepel, said: “the City applauds President Zed’s initiatives to bring various religious communities together throughout the world so that they can live in peace and mutual trust and enrich themselves through dialogue”.

It stated: “President Zed works to uplift about 15-million Roma (Gypsies) people of Europe who live in apartheid conditions by frequently bringing attention to their maltreatment, issues and concerns, and urging other religious leaders to do the same”.

Proclamation noted: I, Randy Voepel, Mayor of the City of Santee, on behalf of the Santee City Council do hereby proclaim October 25, 2013 as “RAJAN ZED DAY” in the City of Santee in commendation of his leadership and dedication to helping the helpless.

Zed opened the Santee City Council on September 25 with its first Hindu invocation in 33 years of its incorporation containing verses from world’s oldest existing scripture, and after sprinkling few drops of water from river Ganga of India considered holy by Hindus.

October 25 is Rajan Zed’s birthday.

Zed is a global religious leader, who besides taking up the cause of religion worldwide, has also raised huge voice against the apartheid faced by Roma in Europe. Bestowed with World Interfaith Leader Award; Zed is Senior Fellow and Religious Advisor to Foundation for Religious Diplomacy, Spiritual Advisor to National Association of Interchurch & Interfaith Families, etc.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.

Female majority Santee, which claims to offer “comfortable convenience of urban living with the serenity and safety of the country”, is nestled between gently rolling hills and located near several refreshing lakes and San Diego River bisects it. Baseball player Stephen Strasburg graduated from Santee's West Hills High School. John W. Minto and Keith Till are Vice Mayor and City Manager respectively.