Who is Rakesh Bhatt?

Rakesh Bhatt is an Indian-American Hindu priest who serves at the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Maryland. He began the third day of the Democratic National Convention on August 21 with a Vedic prayer, seeking blessings for unity and justice in the country. Bhatt, originally from Bengaluru, India, is trained in Rig Veda and Tantrasaara (Maadhva) Agama under the guidance of Pejavar Swamiji of Udupi Ashta Matha. Fluent in multiple languages, he holds degrees in Sanskrit, English, and Kannada. He joined the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in 2013 after working at various temples in India.