New York: Readings and prayers from Hindu scriptures will be part of the second annual Interfaith Baccalaureate service of the University of Nevada in May.

Baccalaureate services are traditional services where students are offered the opportunity to express their thanks for reaching graduation and offer prayers for the future with their family and friends.

The service will consist of hymns, readings from scriptures, blessings, teachings, music and prayers from various religious traditions including Hinduism, said Rajan Zed, director of interfaith relations of a Hindu temple of northern Nevada. Zed is one of the coordinators for this service.

All 2007 graduates, faculty, staff and family members as well as friends of the graduating class have been invited for the ceremony.

In recent years, there has been an increased attention to diversity and consciousness of the world's faith traditions. There is revived interest in baccalaureate services in number of educational institutions across the US like Yale, Brown, Cornell, Emory and Occidental.

In use since at least the 8th century, origins of the baccalaureate service point to an Oxford University statute of 1432, this required each bachelor to deliver a sermon in Latin as part of the academic exercise.

Besides Zed, other members of the service coordination committee include Rev Chuck Durante, pastor of Our Lady of Wisdom University Catholic Community, and Rev Ruth Hanusa of Campus Christian Association. (IANS)