City of Reedley in California has become the 11th city in USA to declare October 25 as “Rajan Zed Day” after religious statesman Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism.
Cities of Hartford (Connecticut), Taylorsville (Utah), Madera (California), Sparks (Nevada), Chowchilla (California), Sanger (California), Exeter (California), Tulare (California), Santee (California) and Dos Palos (California) have already declared October 25 as “Rajan Zed Day”. City of Reno (Nevada) has also proclaimed a day in Zed’s recognition twice in the past.
Signed by Reedley Mayor Robert O. Beck and carrying the city seal, Proclamation of the City of Reedley said: “The City of Reedley honors Mr. Zed’s initiatives to bring various communities together throughout the world so that they can live in peace and mutual trust and enrich themselves through dialogue”.
It further stated: “Mr. Zed is honored for his leadership roles in attempting to help the helpless”.
Zed opened the Reedley City Council on April 22 evening with its first historic Hindu invocation in 100 years of its incorporationcontaining verses from world's oldest religious text in continued use Rig-Veda, 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 (Gypsies) 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.
Reedley, whose tagline is "The World's Fruit Basket", is a multi-cultural and friendly town along the Kings River. It hosts annual Reedley Fiesta, Electrical Christmas Parade and Street Faire. Ray Soleno and Nicole R. Zieba are Mayor Pro Tempore and City Manager respectively of Reedley, claimed to be located in the richest intensive agricultural production area in the world. Its notable residents include author Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, Olympian Lacy Barnes Mileham and baseball player Vic Lombardi.