In Yuba-Sutter, some do and some don't start with prayer
Live Oak sends out letters inviting people to perform the invocation at its City Council meetings.
“It’s been going on for many, many years,” City Manager Jim Goodwin said.
Yuba City also begins its City Council meetings with an invocation and council members often offer the prayer.
In 2010 the municipality made what’s been called a milestone in American religious history when Yuba City and other cities opened with an ancient Hindu prayer. Bakersfield, Yuba City and Modesto were among California cities participating in the May 2010 prayers.
Rajan Zed spoke from Sanskrit scriptures when delivering the invocation. Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, opened and ended his presentation with the customary “Om,” an all-encompassing mystical symbol. After reading in Sanskrit from the Rig-Veda, one of oldest scriptures still in modern use, he translated the prayer into English.
The prayers Zed recited from the Bhagavad-Gitat urged the council members to keep others’ welfare always in mind.
Yuba and Sutter counties do not begin their boards of supervisors meetings with an invocation. Neither does the Marysville City Council.
CONTACT Ryan McCarthy at rmccarthy@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4780. Find him on Facebook at /ADrmccarthy or on Twitter at @ADrmccarthy.
