Nevada (US), October 19 (ANI): Hindus have acknowledged Vatican for their “message for the feast of Deepavali” wishing “splendid and joyous Deepavali” to “Hindu Friends”.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, welcomed the Vatican’s offer of “need to work together for integral human development”, “assuming a shared responsibility for one another”, “seriously engaging in collaborative action”, and “belonging to one human family”.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, praised Vatican’s statement on the occasion, which said: “Let us all, as people of good will, join together to dispel every darkness that hinders a true vision of co-existence, religious harmony and integral development for each and every person”.

Rajan Zed also hailed His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for reportedly including verse from ancient Hindu scripture Upanishads in the Good Friday Meditations and Prayers led by him at Roman Colosseum sometime back.

Zed further urged Pope to visit a Hindu temple in the near future to promote mutual understanding and respect between the faiths.

He added that in shared pursuit for the truth, both faiths can learn from one another and thus can reach closer to the truth.

Deepavali (Diwali), the festival of lights, aims at dispelling the darkness and lighting up the lives and symbolizes the victory of good over evil. (ANI)