Hindu Prayers for Peace Offered at White House National Day of Prayer

Ancient Hindu Vedic chants invoking peace and harmony resonated through the White House as a volunteer from the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) participated in the 75th Annual National Day of Prayer ceremony in the United States, marking another prominent moment of Hindu representation at a major American national event.

The volunteer from the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey , took part in Thursday’s interfaith gathering and invited attendees to close their eyes and fold their hands before reciting the Shanti Paath from the Yajur Veda . The ancient prayer invoked peace across heaven, the sky, earth, water, plants, trees, divine beings, and within every individual, while also seeking harmony physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Addressing the gathering, the representative thanked organisers on behalf of the BAPS fellowship, the Robbinsville Akshardham community, and spiritual leader Mahant Swami Maharaj . The ceremony was part of the National Day of Prayer , an annual observance formally established by the US Congress in 1952 and held on the first Thursday of May.

This year’s theme was “Glorify God Among the Nations — Seeking Him in All Generations,” with prayer events organised across all 50 US states, territories, and Washington, DC, as America approaches 250 years of independence.

In a statement shared on social media, BAPS Public Affairs said the organisation was honoured to offer Hindu prayers for peace and unity at the White House. Several diaspora and interfaith groups described the participation as a reflection of growing religious inclusivity in the US.

Reports also noted that BAPS had earlier participated in the 2020 National Day of Prayer at the White House during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Hindu prayers were offered alongside Christian, Jewish, and Islamic faith leaders.