Hindu statesman Rajan Zed was honored with "Pride of Dharma Award” at Global Dharma Conference in Edison (New Jersey, USA) on September 11 evening.

The “Pride of Dharma Award” citation said: “In appreciation of the significant contributions made towards the protection, preservation and propagation of Dharma”. This Award “recognizes the outstanding contributions of those Hindus who have made a major impact on Hindu society”.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, has taken-up interfaith, religion, Roma (Gypsies) and other causes all over the world. He has read opening prayers in United States Senate and US House of Representatives in Washington DC, various State Senates and State Assemblies/Houses-of-Representatives, various County Commissions and City Councils all over USA. Bestowed with “World Interfaith Leader Award”, many cities in USA have named October 25 as “Rajan Zed Day”.

Others to receive this Award at the Conference were Dr. Mahesh Mehta and Rajiv Malhotra.

Opening ceremony on September 11 of this three-day Conference, attended by few hundred people, included Bharatnatyam performance by Arsha Kala Bharati founder Pavithra Srinivasan; addresses by Swami Tattwamayananda of Vedanta Society of Northern California, Dr. Mahesh Mehta, Infinity Foundation founder Rajiv Malhotra, American Institute of Vedic Studies founder Vamadeva Shastri, Sreepeetham founder Swami Paripoornananda; Shiv Pachakshara Stotra by Sparsh Shah; and Garba and Bhangra folk dances and musical performance.

Over 50 eminent spiritual, business, science, social, arts and political leaders/experts are participating in this Conference whose tagline is “Reconnect-Rejuvenate-Realize”, an initiative of Hindu Students Council, which has chapters in over 50 university campuses in North America and which was launched in 1990.

Conference Executive Committee included: Nikunj Trivedi, Ravindra Jaishankar, Shaivi Sukhadia, Sohini Sircar, Harshit Agarwal, Parth Parihar and Darshna Modi.