Hindu statesman Rajan Zed read hymns from Rig-Veda, Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita at the Interfaith Memorial Service honoring civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Reno (Nevada) on January 15. 

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, speaking on the occasion, stated that as we all know, Dr. King had a dream and he empowered others to envision a new reality with him and then made efforts to bring that vision to life. Zed suggested those gathered to dream bigger than their circumstances to rekindle Dr. King’s legacy. So have a dream, communicate it, and then work hard towards materializing it, he added. 

Zed also urged the attendees to take a pledge by repeating after him: I shall have a dream of improving the human condition and put my efforts and energy to realize it. And the audience repeated the pledge. 

Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell was the keynote speaker. . Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, Reverend Sean Savoy and Black Wall Street were presented with the Reverend Onie Cooper Humanitarian Award. “I have a dream” video was also shown on the occasion. 

Theme of this 37^th Annual Service was “Our Voice, Our Power” and it was jointly organized by Northern Nevada Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Committee and Nevada Interfaith Association.