Vedic chants fill White House hall on National Day of Prayer

Verses from the ancient Hindu scripture Yajur Veda echoed through the White House during the National Day of Prayer celebrations in the United States, as a volunteer associated with the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey, took part in the event held on Thursday.

During the gathering, the volunteer invited attendees to close their eyes and join their hands before chanting the Shanti Paath, a Vedic prayer seeking peace and harmony across the universe. The prayer invokes peace for the heavens, skies, earth, waters, plants, trees, divine beings and humanity.

Addressing the audience, the volunteer expressed gratitude on behalf of the BAPS community in Robbinsville and spiritual leader Guru Hari Mohan Swami Maharaj for the opportunity to participate in the ceremony.

Observed every year on the first Thursday of May, the National Day of Prayer was established by the US Congress through a law passed in 1952.

In a statement shared on social media on Friday, BAPS Public Affairs said the organisation was honoured to offer Hindu prayers for peace and unity at the White House, adding that such occasions highlight the role of faith, service and shared values in strengthening communities as the US approaches 250 years of independence.

This year marked the 75th edition of the National Day of Prayer, with prayer events organised across thousands of communities in all 50 US states, territories and Washington, DC. The 2026 theme for the observance was “Glorify God Among the Nations, Seeking Him in All Generations.”

In his message for the occasion, US President Donald Trump said the day celebrates America’s long-standing tradition of faith and prayer, while also acknowledging the country’s 250 years of independence and the blessings bestowed upon its people.