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WASHINGTON D.C. (May 4,
2006)—Leaders of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF)
attended a reception hosted by President George W. Bush commemorating
the National Day of Prayer at the White House on May 4, 2006.
Held in the historic East Room of the White House this year,
the National Day of Prayer program has been held annually
on the first Thursday of May pursuant to a joint Congressional
resolution enacted in 1952 and signed into law by President
Harry S. Truman.
Sheetal Shah (left) and Nikhil Joshi,
Esq. (right) stand in front of the East Room of the
White House prior to joining President Bush in celebrating
the National Day of Prayer. |
As the only Hindu attendees
of the event, HAF Executive Council Member, Sheetal Shah,
and HAF Board Member, Nikhil Joshi, Esq. joined approximately
200 other invited guests representing various faith-based
groups. In a brief speech to those gathered, President Bush
spoke of the importance of faith in the daily lives of many
Americans, but that the freedom to practice a faith or no
faith is a bedrock principle of the United States of America.
“As a Hindu, it was
an honor to join the President in celebrating the central
role that prayer holds in our daily religious practice,”
said Shah. “We are pleased that the White House continues
to include diverse faiths in this important event to honor
the various ways in which so many of us seek spiritual guidance.”
HAF members attended the
White House Diwali reception last year and have held briefings
on Hindu human rights issues and religious liberty issues
with White House staff in the past. Through these interactions,
the foundation recently began working with other Hindu organizations
to utilize Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (FBCI) funding
and distributed a guide to assist such groups in navigating
through the process last year. An invitation to the annual
event as Hindu representatives was a continuation of that
ongoing dialogue.
“Every event where
HAF can dialogue with prominent faith-based groups is an opportunity
to share the fundamental role of prayer in the lives of every
Hindu, and an opportunity to speak of the central role of
tolerance and pluralism in our religion,” said Joshi.
“While substantial action on the many critical socio-political
issues that Hindus face will require interactions with leaders
at all levels of government, the growing Hindu American segment
of this nation’s religious fabric was highlighted by
our attendance of the White House program.”
The Hindu American
Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, non-partisan organization
promoting the Hindu and American ideals of understanding,
tolerance and pluralism.
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