Room for Hindu prayers at Guangzhou Asian Games in China

NEVADA - Hindus have lauded People’s Republic of China for provision of religious service center to provide spiritual assistance for participating athletes, coaches, and officials of different faiths at the 16th Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou from November 12 to 27.

Commending the provision of free access to resources for religious practices round-the-clock, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, described it as a “step in the right direction”.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that we must take religion seriously as it was a most powerful force in human society. Religions stress the wholeness of existence and the significance of loving and peaceful inter-relationship.

According to reports, this Center in the Athletes’ Village has six rooms adorned with religious paintings and statues for prayers of Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Christianity, and Hinduism, and a serenity room for adherents of other faiths. It has 24 clerks and 46 religious volunteers able to lead prayers in English and other foreign languages and it will hold celebrations of Eid al-Adha falling on/around November 16. Apart from the Center, an additional 28 churches and temples in the city of Guangzhou, which have completed renovations and expansions, will also accommodate worshipers during the Games.

These Games, whose vision is “Thrilling Games, Harmonious Asia”, will attract 11,700 athletes from 45 countries and regions in Asia. Liu Peng and Zhang Guangning are President and Secretary General respectively of Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee while Zhong Zhiyan is the head of the Games’ religious service office. Hu Jintao is President of world’s most populous country China. (ANI)