Interfaith Ceremony to honor graduating seniors

Music from a Native American flute, prayers in Hebrew and Aramaic as well as a traditional Hindu dance will all be a part of IU's baccalaureate ceremony, an inter-religious event for all faiths in celebration of accomplishment, achievement and inspiration.\n"It has a long tradition on the IU campus (and) is traditionally a celebration of accomplishment," Bill Elliott, director of University ceremonies said. "It acknowledges the accomplishments of students who are graduating."\nFor the past 166 years, IU has held a baccalaureate service for graduating seniors. In 2002, a campus-wide committee restructured the traditional ceremony to include a diverse array of religious movements, including Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity and Judaism.\n"It's a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community and celebrate a special occasion in an interfaith diverse community," said Helene G. Simon Hillel Center Executive Director Rabbi Sue Shiffron. "It really represents the diversity of the IU community and of our world."\nPlanned by a committee of faculty, students, staff and campus chaplains, the service will begin with a candle-lighting ceremony and a prayer written by several clergy from the Bloomington community. \nProceeding the ceremony prayers from the Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian and Jewish traditions offering strength, guidance and wisdom will be read by IU graduates and undergraduates.\nIt will be during the Hindu prayer that the traditional dance, Pushpanjali, will occur. \nThe dance marks an offering of flowers to Lord Ganesha, who symbolizes auspicious beginnings.\nThe ceremony will then honor parents and loved ones for the help and support they offered the graduates throughout the years.\nThe diverse group of faiths represented in the ceremony will bless the graduates as participants will be asked to stand and sing a traditional prayer for travel lead by the St. Paul's Catholic Center Korean Choir. \n"My favorite part is where the audience is asked to participate in the closing song," IU Alumni Association President Ken Beckley said. "It's a moving song."\nThis year's baccalaureate will be held at 5 p.m. May 7 at the IU Auditorium and is free and open to the public. \n"We hope students will take time during the busy commencement weekend to attend the service," Beckley said. "It is only 45 minutes long, and I think those who attend will feel a little bit extra special when they leave the auditorium on the seventh of May."\n-- Contact staff writer Amber Nicholas at amrnicho@indiana.edu.