Students express interest in Hindu prayer space

Many students are interested in the idea of having a Hindu prayer space on campus, according to Rishika Dewan ’16.

Dewan spearheaded an initiative withPrinceton Hindu Satsangam to send out a survey last month to students to see if there was interest on campus for the creation of a Hindu prayer space.

“There is an interest from both Hindu students and non-Hindu students alike,” Dewan said. “Princeton is a great place to be Hindu, and we just want to see how we can further continue this trajectory.”

The Satsangam works closely with Vineet Chander, Hindu life coordinator at the Office of Religious Life, according to Dewan.

The University is very accommodating to Hindu practices, Chander said.

"We are the nation"s first and only college or University to have a full-time Hindu life program,” Chander noted.

University media relations specialist Min Pullan deferred comment to Chander but noted that there is an interfaith prayer space at Murray Dodge Hall.

Courtney Balgobin ’15, who participated nbso online casino reviews in the survey, said she believes that the University is very accommodating, but that there is still a need for a Hindu prayer space.

“The Chapel is non-denominational, which is really nice, but it is also customary for Hindus to sit on the floor when they pray, so that is another reason why this new prayer space could be convenient,” Balgobin said.

Non-Hindu students interviewed also supported the creation of a Hindu space.

“I think it’s important for us to continue supporting diversity, especially in faith,” Alex Rodgers ’15 said. “As a religious student, I know the value of my spiritual experience at Princeton when times can be really challenging and stressful, and I think that everyone deserves the opportunities to fulfill their spiritual needs here.”

Zachary Kuehm ’18 said that he had not participated in the survey but that he supports the push for a Hindu prayer space.

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“The University should be accepting and supportive of all religions,” he said.

Molly Contini ’17 said she thought the University should be responsive to the push for a prayer space.

“I think the University actively tries to accommodate diverse religious traditions, and I would hope that they would be responsive in this case, too,” she said.

Dewan said she is optimistic the University will implement a Hindu prayer space. Both Dewan and Chander said they have not yet encountered any negative feedback.

Green Hall is a likely spot for the prayer space if the University decides to create it, Dewan said.

“I think the administration is understanding, and if we approach them in the right way expressing our need for this, then I don’t see any reason why they would deny us of that need,” Dewan said.