Universal Hindu and Sikh prayers were offered at the interfaith service in the Washington National Cathedral on Saturday to invoke divine blessings for new President Donald Trump and the nation.
Hindu priest Narayanachar Digalakote prayed in Sanskrit for the government leaders in the first part of the service when prayers were said for those who govern.
Jesse Singh, the founder of American Sikhs for Trump, recited in Punjabi a prayer said by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh master, in the segment of prayers for the people.
Singh who was dressed in a suit and wore a dark turban, translated the invocation that was for unity, binding the common bonds of all and equality.
Expanding on it, he added prayers for the most vulnerable in society and for those who perform the dangerous and dirty jobs for the well being of all.
"Bless all whose lives closely linked with ours," he prayed.
Wearing a saffron shawl and religious markings on his forehead, Digalakote recited a 'shloka' or hymn to invoke divine blessings for those who govern, in the first part of the ceremony of prayers for leaders.
Unlike Singh, the Jewish rabbis and the Muslim imam, who provided translations of their prayers and religious texts, the priest of the Shiva Vishnu Temple in Lanham, a Washington suburb, walked away after his rote recitation, leaving the congregants without an idea of what the prayer was about.
Nicknamed the "White House Priest", Digalakote has participated in Deepavali celebrations at the White House under Barack Obama.
While most of the Christian prayers at the service were focused on Christianity, the Hindu and Sikh prayers were ecumenical, addressed to a common deity.
For the first time for either the Democratic or Republican parties, a Sikh prayer was said at the opening of the second day's session at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland last year.
Harmeet Dhillon, the Vice Chairperson of the California State Republican Party, opened the second night of the Republican National Convention by reciting the 'ardaas' or prayer.
Trump has reached out to the American Hindu community, addressing a rally held by them last October, where he said he would be their friend in the White House.
After his election, Trump called out to the Hindus in the audience at a "Thank-You" rally in Florida.
Trump's son Eric visited a Hindu temple in Orlando, Florida, in the final days before the November election and his wife, Lara, visited a temple in Chantilly, Virginia, to celebrate Deepavali.
Over 100 Indian-Americans celebrate Trump's inauguration
Several Indian-Americans gathered for a gala here to celebrate the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th US President, an event skipped by many from the community, with Shalabh Kumar, a key member of the President's panel on Asia-Pacific affairs, also conspicuous by his absence.
At least a hundred Indian-Americans attended the gala that took place at the Grand Ballroom of the central Mayflower hotel in Washington on Friday, American Bazaar online reported.
Indian ambassador to the US, Navtej Sarna and his counterparts from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, South Korea and Singapore were also present.
"This is a great celebration of Asian success," Sarna said at the event, largely attended by Republican crowd.
"I am very happy that Indian-Americans are part of the successful large Asian community."
Virginia Republican Puneet Ahluwalia, one of the organisers of the event, told the American Bazaar that it was "a grand success".
"We were able to create a platform for the AAPI (Asian-American and Pacific Islanders) community to come together and celebrate the Trump election. The gala also made a strong statement that we are very much part of the American mainstream and will play an effective role in the next administration."
Ahluwalia added that by showing up in good numbers, the Indian-American community has showed their desire for "the US-India relationship to be on the front and centre for the next administration".
Dozens of dignitaries attended the event, including Congressman Ed Royce, chairman of the powerful Foreign Relations Committee, Representative Barbara Comstack, Guam Governor Eddie Baza Calvo, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Governor Ralph DLG Torres as well as a number of Republican leaders from various Asian American and Pacific Islanders communities.
"The (Trump) administration is looking to increase its relationship with the Asian countries," said Royce, the California Republican known to be one of the most staunchly pro-India voices in the US Congress.
"We should reach out to our friends in Asia. We will work to further and deepen this relationship," said the chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee.
Indian-American Republicans who were present included Californian K.V. Kumar, Floridian Harry Walia and Ahluwalia who along with Shalabh Kumar form Trump-Pence campaign's Asian Pacific American Advisory Committee.
Shalabh Kumar was, however, not present.
The formal part of the ball began with a rendition of the US national anthem. Indian food and Bollywood dance were other highlights of the event.
