Who is Pandit Rakesh Bhatt? Hindu priest who opened DNC Day 3 with vedic prayer – Times of India

Pandit Rakesh Bhatt, a respected Hindu priest from Bengaluru, brought a spiritual touch to the third day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) being held at the United Center in Chicago. An X user shared the following video of the Hindu priest reciting the Vedic prayers at the DNC.

Message of unity and justice
On this significant occasion aimed at rallying support for Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris, Pandit Bhatt led the session with a traditional Hindu prayer, invoking the ancient Indian concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ meaning ‘the whole world is one family.’
“Even if we have differences, when it comes to the nation, we have to be united and it moves us towards justice for all.We should be in unison. Let our minds think together. Let our hearts beat as one. All for the betterment of society. May this make us powerful so we can unite and make our nation proud,” he translated the Vedic Mantra after chanting.
Pandit Bhatt’s involvement in the convention took place after the gavel was struck, where he was invited to lead the delegates in prayer. He chanted verses in Sanskrit and then provided their English translations, emphasising themes of world peace and harmony. Following this spiritual act, the national song was sung, which raised a sense of unity among the attendees from diverse backgrounds.
Educational and religious background
With a solid background in religious studies and rituals, Pandit Bhatt hails from a traditional Madhwa Brahmin family. His training came under the guidance of his Guru, Sri Pejavar Swamiji of Udupi Ashta Matha, where he studied Tantrasaara (Maadhva) Agama and Rig Veda.
As per reports, Bhatt holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Sanskrit, English, and Kannada. He received education from Jayachamarajendra College in Sanskrit and Osteen College in Bengaluru, where he majored in Kannada and English. His academic achievements earned him the “Satshastra Vidwan” honour from institutions such as Mantralaya, Uttaradi Matha, and Udupi Ashta Matha.
Before his appointment at the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple (SSVT) in July 2013, Pandit Bhatt worked with Udupi Ashta Matha and held temporary roles at Salem Raghavendra Swami Koil and Badrinath. His proficiency in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, English, Tulu, and Sanskrit shows his extensive knowledge of various cultures and religions.