CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Diya TV) — Harvard University’s South Asia institute withdrew from a nine-day Hindu devotional program held at Sanders Theatre in August after faculty members raised concerns about the university’s involvement, according to The Harvard Crimson.

Indian spiritual leader Morari Bapu led the Ram Katha from Aug. 15 through Aug. 23. Roughly 1,000 people attended each day, according to the Crimson. Organizers also held a three-day academic conference on the Ramayana from Aug. 16 through Aug. 18.

Harvard’s Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute initially helped organize the academic conference, assemble speakers and secure Sanders Theatre. A British charity, TRUDANA, working with the U.S.-based nonprofit Truth Love and Compassion, funded the devotional program and offered funding for the academic conference.

Several Harvard faculty members questioned whether an academic center should associate itself with a large religious program aimed primarily at an outside audience. In a July 16 letter to university administrators, faculty members also cited Harvard’s institutional-voice policy, which generally discourages university leaders and academic units from taking positions on public issues outside their core academic functions.

Faculty and institute officials met July 19 to discuss the event, its funding and the separation between the devotional program and academic conference. On July 29, institute executive director Hitesh Hathi informed colleagues that the Mittal Institute would remove its name and affiliation from the entire program.

The organizers then contracted directly with Sanders Theatre. Hathi said the event would proceed independently of the institute, while organizers removed Harvard references from promotional material that officials flagged.

Some Harvard scholars still participated in the program as individuals. Hathi welcomed Morari Bapu during the opening session, while Harvard professor Diana Eck spoke about the geography of the Ramayana. Eck later said neither Harvard nor the Mittal Institute sponsored or hosted the event.

On the final day, Morari Bapu told the audience, “I dedicate this whole Ram Katha to Harvard University.”