Category: Press releases

Bartlett, IL: Committed to the progress and growth of women worldwide, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha celebrated its sixth annual Midwest Women’s Conference held in Bartlett, Illinois on March 30, 2013. Over 450 women of all ages were in attendance at the conference which focused on this year’s theme of “Timeless Traditions: Celebrating the Past, Cultivating the Future”. The conference focused on understanding the glory of Hindu traditions, communicating them with ease, and nurturing future generations by preserving a priceless culture and traditions. The conference started with a traditional Hindu prayer for peace and candle lightening ceremony. A group, which included a mother and daughter, from the Kalapadma Dance Academy performed a traditional dance on stage, while a daughter and her mother shared hosting duties; it was evident that our youth is committed to maintaining their timeless traditions and family values. Dr. Aditi Sheth, a Psychiatrist at Cleveland Clinic, stated “At the end of the day —While it “takes a village” to raise a child, it is a parent’s responsibility, especially a mothers’ responsibility. It starts with us….. It starts in our homes –our values like touching feet of our elders, our choice of language…,our food, clothes …all of it”. In 1996, […]

Chicago IL: Adnan Sami staged a live concert on Saturday, March 30, 2013 at Sears Center, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates, Ill. The multi-talented pianist, singer, composer, actor, and musician, also reputed to be the world’s fastest keyboardist, was back in Chicago after eight years with a spectacular new show presented by Combined Oil Company, Live 2U, and Desi Bazaar. Sami mesmerized an enthusiastic crowd of more than 3800 listeners for about 3 hours. British-born 39-year old Sami is of Pakistani origin, currently holds Canadian citizenship, and lives in Mumbai, India. His style merges Asian and Western music styles and instrumentation and ranges from classical to jazz to modern pop-rock. The first person to play Indian Classical music on the electric piano, Sami is featured in a documentary recently commissioned by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office amongst the ten most famous names from India and Pakistan, who have influenced Asian culture in the UK over the last fifty years. He is committed to experimenting with new styles and forms rather than be taken hostage by past successes. Sami started by singing “Allahu Akbar” and showing his virtuosity on the keyboard. He went on to sing the following songs: […]

Chicago IL: Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS) celebrated its annual Baisakhi festival Rangla Punjab 2013 at Copernicus Theater (5216 W. Lawrence Ave. Chicago) on Saturday, March 30, 2013. The program was divided into four quarters each with its own MC. Sikh associations of Milwaukee contributed several dance performances with an authentic rural flavor that were greeted with appreciative hoots by the Chicagoland audience. Awards were presented to several individuals for outstanding services to the Sikh community. Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford was guest of honor. PCS Founder and Past President Rajinder Singh Mago welcomed the audience. The first part of the program was emceed by Navraaz Kaur Basati, who kept switching between English and Punjabi, on behalf of her father PCS past president Thakar Singh Basati. Born in the US and married to a non-Desi, she recounted various travel anecdotes juxtaposing Punjabi, Indian, and American culture. Children of the Sikh Community of Chicago coordinated by Gurmukh Singh kicked off the evening with Shabad or Sikh hymns from the holy books. Avneet Kular, Gia Dhaliwal, Rasna Dhillon, Budna Kaur, Parlyn Banipal, and Asees Khaira of Navi Paneeri performed a dance choreographed by Sukhwinder Kaur. Avtar Singh Multani then sang “Jag […]

Chicago IL: Consul General of Islamic Republic of Pakistan Zaheer Pervaiz Khan hosted a reception to celebrate the 73rd Pakistan National Day with Diplomats, Chicago land entrepreneurs, community leaders, journalists, and eminent citizens to honor the sacrifices of Pakistan’s freedom fighters and to commemorate Founding Father Jinnah, for giving them a country where individual dignity and religious freedom is assured for all citizens. This event was held on Saturday, March 23, 2013 evening at Holiday Inn Oakbrook, 17 West 350 22nd Street, Oakbrook Terrace, IL. There was a full house of over 400 participants. The event was part of celebrations Pakistanis observed across the world on 23rd March to commemorate passage of Lahore Resolution in 1940, which laid the foundation for the creation of Pakistan. Americans politicians among the invited guests included Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, Illinois Finance Policy & Operations Director Sohair Omer, City Comptroller of Office of Chicago Mayor Amer Ahmad, and Immigrant Assistance Program Coordinator Nettie Lasko. Many members of the diplomatic community in Chicago also attended. The function began with recitation from the Holy Qur’an by Mansoor Ahmed followed by welcome speech by Samreen Khan. Mr. Zaheer Pervaiz Khan saluted the Pakistan flag. National anthems […]

Chicago IL: It was a day to remember for all the women who participated in the International Women’s Day which was organized by enthusiastic volunteers of TACG & ATA on March 23rd, 2013 at the Holiday Inn in Mount Prospect, IL. TAGC is a non-profit organization devoted to the awareness and promotion of Telugu Heritage and Culture in the mid-west region headquartered in Chicago. The Association was originally founded in 1971 and incorporated as a non-profit organization by the year 1978. What was once a brain child of small group of individuals, TAGC has grown to be one of the oldest and largest Indo-American organizations in the United States. ATA (American Telugu Association) is a non profit national organization and was founded in 1990, head quartertered in Chicago. The main purpose of the organization is to assist and promote literary, cultural, educational, religious, social, economic, health and community activities of the people of Telugu origin as well as to promote exchange programs for students, scientists, and professionals of telugu origin between the United States of America, Canada and India and other countries. For the first time TAGC together with American Telugu Association (ATA) put together this outstanding event which brought […]

Lemont, IL: Association of Rajasthanis in America (ARA) celebrated the Holi festival on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago (HTGC), 10915 Lemont Rd, Lemont, Ill., with an evening of colorful dances, good food, and much socializing. The event was organized by outgoing ARA President Ram Saini and presided by incoming President Sunita Sarup. Quite a few non-Rajasthanis, e.g., from Madhya Pradesh, were present. To keep up the Holi spirit, many guests showed up with faces already colored with powders. Sarup invited the volunteers who had contributed to the evening’s success to join her before welcoming the audience and announcing the ARA program for this year: develop leaders in its youth wing, promote small businesses, expand community services, and a monthly newsletter. Ram Saini’s little daughter Riddhi presented the cultural program with these words: “I want to tell you about my dad. Last year he was president and did a lot of hard work. He is no longer president but still helps out a lot. I hope you enjoy the program and happy Holi!” Riddhi danced to the song Soniye Soniye from the movie Aksar. Dr. Virendra Mathur sang a Hindi song celebrating the advent of […]

Chicago IL: HTGC (Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago) in Lemont hosted its semi-annual fund raising dinner of 2013 on Saturday, March 16. This event had a different format from the previous fund raisers in so many ways. As the intent of the program was to bring in as many people into the auditorium as possible, the guests were treated to a nice dinner in buffet style before the start of the main event in the Gupta dining hall instead of the usual banquet style dinner during the event in the Rathi Auditorium. Also, this one provided a platform for as many as eight local singers and other accompanying artists who were able to show their musical talents during the program in all four southern languages in addition to Hindi. A capacity crowd of more than 400 people enjoyed the event that lasted over four hours and was co-sponsored by Ram Raghuraman of RR International. The program was off to a good start at 7:30 pm with an invocation prayer from temple priests Sri Saikrishna and Sri Vengatesan followed by brief welcoming addresses by Finance Committee chair Dr. Rohini Udupa and the president Mr. Tilak Marwaha. Both exhorted the audiences for […]

Chicago IL: The Indo-American Heritage Museum (IAHM) staged its annual “Amazing India” program on Sunday, March 17, 2013 from noon to 5 pm as part of Navy Pier’s “Neighborhoods of the World” program from Feb. 17 to April 7 that showcases the ethnic diversity of the immigrant communities across Chicagoland. Presented at the Crystal Gardens in partnership with the Consulate General of India, the show featured dances by Chitrahar Cultural Academy, Natya Dance Theatre, Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts, Anila Sinha Foundation, Satrangi Dance Group, Hareepa! Chicago, and Meher Dance Company. Madhoolica Dear and Happie Datt from IAHM introduced “Amazing India” and emceed the event. The venue was tightly packed right from noon and audience participation continued unabated till 5 pm. Choreographer-instructor Anjali Julka introduced Chitrahar Cultural Academy founded by her mother, the late Vichitra Nayyar. Two groups of children aged 3–6 and 7–12 performed to the following Bollywood songs: Bum Bum Bole, Bole Chudiyan, Navrai Majhi, and Sadi Gali. Julka’s sister choreographer-instructor Alka Nayyar danced to Piya Tose Naina Lage and Gun Gun Guna. Julka and Nayyar then led an interactive Bollywood Bhangra. Natya Dance Theatre offered three items, introduced by Nithya Sunder, beginning with “colors of rhythms” […]

Chicago, IL: Kalapadma Dance Academy Chicago celebrated their 16th Annual day Event with students and their families, friends and prominent leaders of our community on Saturday, March 16, 2013 in Mundelein High School, 1350 W Hawley St Mundelein, IL. Students of Kalapadma, ranging in ages from 3 to 50 yrs, adorned in colorful costumes, dazzled the audience of about 600 art lovers of Greater Chicago land area. It was 3 hours of pure entertainment that consisted of Indian classical as well as, Semi Classical, and fusion dances which were presented by more than 105 students. Such a grand show was made available to the audience at no cost. The theme of this year’s show was women for three reasons, Kalapadma wanted to pay homage to the medical student who was brutally raped in Delhi, it also coincided with international women’s day, and Kalapadma wanted to show support for President Obama’s initiative towards the violence against women bill and equal pay. Keeping women in mind Kalapadma decided to acknowledge all the participants grandmothers as chief guests. Representing these grandmothers was four of the oldest from the north, central, and south India. Mrs. Sumitraben Patel, a grandmother herself, wife of Mr. Narendra […]

Chicago IL: Share-a-Smile Chicago (SASC) hosted its annual fundraiser to aid senior citizens with an evening of entertainment on Friday, March 16, 20013 at India House Banquet Hall at 1521 West Schaumburg Road Schaumburg, Ill. This year’s beneficiaries were Sukhdham, an organization that serves abandoned parents on the outskirts of Delhi, the Barrington Area Council on Aging (BACOA), and other charities. The banquet hall was full with close to 400 people attending. Event coordinator was SASC Founder Sushma Bhanot. SASC President Trupti Kuvadia gave the welcome speech. Master of ceremonies amidst the colorful international dances was “100% clean” Indo-Japanese stand-up comedian Dan Nainan, who used to open for Russell Peters on nationwide tours and has performed last year for New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniack, and President Obama. Largely targeted at teenagers, often having communication problems with their parents and divergent expectations, he played a great deal on his own mixed parentage with a Malayalee (Keralite) father and Japanese mother. Talented youth from across Chicagoland performed dances from China, India, Middle-East and Mexico and the audience partook of a family-style dinner prepared by India House Banquets. The cultural program lasted from 8:00 to 11:00 pm, preceded by […]

India, Andhra Pradesh: During the last two weeks of January, 2013, an incredibly dedicated and faith-filled couple from Andhra Pradesh, India, Dr. Geetha and Tom Chitta, extended the blessed opportunity for me to visit Hyderabad, Porumamilla, Kadpa, Chennai, Velankanni and Delhi and personally witness the extensive work of the members of the Catholic Church and the vibrant life of India– in all its forms. As Director of Mission Awareness for the Archdiocese of San Antonio since 1991, this was, by far, the most amazing chance to grow in my own mission awareness, gather photos, stories, and new friends, and strengthen my faith convictions during this Year of Faith. Due to the Chitta family’s thoughtful planning and life-long networking, I traveled with a great team of four other Americans to schools, hostels, homes for the elderly, centers for disabled, a rural out-door health clinic, and a home for AIDS orphans. At each site, we were welcomed like dignitaries, with garlands of fragrant flowers, songs, traditional dances and applause from hundreds of beautiful, well-behaved children and gracious, grateful adults. Tom and Geetha, along with the Holy Spirit, enabled us to meet countless priests, sisters, school directors, students, novices, along with spiritual gurus, […]

Aurora, IL: On the auspicious occasion of Maha Sivarathri 2013, Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora, IL, organized spectacular cultural celebrations ‘Shivoham’ on Saturday, March 9th, 2013, at the temple auditorium. Maha Sivarathri is a very important event for the throngs of devotees of Lord Siva. Hindus pray to Parameswara with impeccable devotion and concentration during this special period with fasting, and staying awake all night chanting His prayers on Sivarathri Day. “Shivoham” unique classical and contemporary dance performances by professional teachers of Chicago land, in the Indian classical dance forms of Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Odissi have been presented in the Veluchamy auditorium. The event began with the melodious chanting of Lingashtakam by students of Smt. Sunitha Vissapragada, Artistic Director of Balanandam Group. This was followed by Lalita Sangeetam composed by Late Sri Palagummi Viswanathan and performed by the students of Rajaveena School of Music under the able guidance of Smt. Rajeswari Pariti. Highlighting the evening was a unique presentation, Ambalavaanan – depicting Bhakta Kannappa’s love & devotion towards Lord Shiva, an electrifying performance by Joshua George student of Poonam Mahesh, artistic Director or Nrityanant Performing arts institute. Poonam & Joshua presented yet another scintillating performance of “Ardhanareeshwaram”. Natya […]

Chicago IL: The Asian American Coalition of Chicago honored Indian Americans Mohina Ahluwalia, and Isha Jog, at their 30th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration, Saturday, February 23, 2013, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont Illinois. This year’s gala event themed “Celebrating Three Decades of Unified Leadership and Services” was hosted by the Vietnamese American community of Chicago, with Mr. Doug Nyugen and Dr. N.T. Hieu serving as event chairpersons. Mrs. Mohina Ahluwalia, Chief Executive Officer Alfa Manufacturing Industries Inc., Past Chairperson, Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago, and with a stellar record of community service won the Indian American Exemplary Community Service Award. Ms. Isha Jog, Senior, Hoffman Estates High School, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, Distinguished Young Woman of Illinois 2013 and Miss Teen Illinois American Elegance, and a dance artist won the Indian American Youth Who Excel Award. Mrs. Lourdes Mon, an educationist and an Asian TV show producer was honored with the Pan Asian American Award. The Hon. James Thompson, Former Governor State of Illinois received the Coalition’s GRAND ASIAN AWARD. This award is periodically presented to someone of non-Asian descent, who has made significant contributions to the Asian Pacific American community. “DePaul University Bhangra Team” presented by […]

Chicago IL: Hari Om Mandir locked at 6N020 Medinah Rd, Medinah, IL celebrated Mahashivaratri on Sunday, March 10, 2013, with bhajans from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Despite heavy rain and thick fog, devotees had been trickling in before then to perform worship of the Shiva linga on this auspicious day when the ascetic god finally awoke from his deep meditation to marry his consort Parvati for the welfare of the world. As the rain died down, more families arrived and the hall was almost full by the time a temple committee member attired in the ascetic garb of Lord Shiva appeared, wielding the trident and playing the damaru (small hourglass-shaped hand-drum), with his wife as Parvati dressed in auspicious red, to receive worship and bless the assembly seated before them. Devotees queued up to worship the linga at two different locations within the temple: at the separate shrine to Shiva and Parvati behind the primary sanctums dedicated to the manifestations of Lord Vishnu and at another temporary linga that had been specially installed in front and to the right of the main shrines. The latter had large cardboard backdrops of the snow-covered Himalayas to transport the devotees to his abode […]

Lemont IL: Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago (HTGC) at Lemont, IL, celebrated the Lord of Dance (Nata-Raja) on Mahashivaratri with a cultural program that saw wide participation from across Chicagoland, even all the way from Iowa. Classical styles from both South and North India were represented, as also old devotionals rendered through contemporary fusion. Performers ranged from six-year old kids to mothers dancing with their adult daughters. As befitting this festival of ascetic Shiva’s awakening from the depths of prolonged meditation to the world of the senses, most items portrayed the god deploying his limbs in ecstasy (tandava), sometimes accompanied by consort Parvati’s gentle (lāsya) dance. Following a dhun (folkish melody) from HTGC cultural committee, there was a tabla ensemble performed by Hersh Pathak, Darsh Kapadia, Shiven Gupta, Akhil Ghosh, Ayush Panda, Dhruv Chepakasseril, and Amogh Raula from Jugalbandi Academy of Tabla and Kathak Dance in Naperville. Founder and choreographer Bindu Pathak has been teaching in Chicagoland since 1995. This was followed by “Om Namah Shivaya” a Kathak performance featuring Shreya Surti, Sahej Sharma, and Anusha Singh. Tabla ensemble comprising Athyun Nagelli, Amal Ghosh, Shivansh Padhy, Hersh Pathak, Harsh Sharma, Amogh Raula, and Pragya Mahishweri then performed together (jugalbandi) with […]

Chicago IL: Overseas Friends of BJP-USA warmly invited the general audience to participate in the live speech of Hon. Narendra Modi Via Satellite on Saturday March 09, 2013 at Holiday Inn, Rolling Meadows. Purpose of this event was to make a strong Indian lobby in Washington and also send a message from BJP to American Indians. Gujarat State Chief Minister, Narendra Modi addressed the Indian Diaspora from Karnavati, Ahmedabad. The topic of his speech was “Role of Indian Diaspora In the Development of India As Envisioned by Swami Vivekananda”. Gujaratis as well as Americans attended this event. Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s 52 minute speech was in Hindi. Shri Narendra Modi addressed the gathering at 2 Venues simultaneously (Holiday Inn, Rolling Meadows, IL and TV Asia Auditorium, National Edison Road, NJ) via video conference. In addition to this, this speech was viewed by a large number of people across USA and Canada. In India, all leading TV channels telecast the program LIVE, allowing a large number of people to view this memorable event. Promoter at NJ was Jayesh Patel, Rakshpal Sood and R. P. Singh while at Chicago it was Goyal Amar Upadhyay, Kanwal Veer, Chandrakant Patel, Jayesh Patel (President), Chandrakant […]

Chicago IL: The students from the Indian Students Association (ISA) India Night Flame Fair Awards 2013 on Friday, March 8, 2013 at University of Illinois Forum, 725 w Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL. A sold out, dynamic Cultural Show that showcased dance styles prevailing all across India and featured other talents as well such as singing and verity of cultural dance mix with Bollywood renowned songs. This year, the show’s theme was Tribute to renowned Bollywood legend filmmaker late Shree Yash Chopra. Along with Bollywood Music, the show was fused with mainstream hits by American artists that helped to define this growing generation of Indian students. The attendance was house full. The Indian Student Association at UIC welcomes audiences to India Night 2013! This event showcases traditional and modern dance numbers, entertaining musical pieces, and comedy skits! India Night helps preserve, promote, and celebrate South Asian culture on the UIC campus. India Night was dedicated to the late Yash Raj Chopra, who showed us the true meaning of passion. Audience included multiethnic things included Family and friends of performers packed the UIC Forum on campus for the show. The auditorium was hustling with excited Parents and Friends of the performers and […]

Chicago IL: Share a Smile Chicago is a registered non-profit, charity organization with a 501C status. It has a unique global vision to share and give back to the less privileged seniors by identifying those who are most vulnerable and underserved, first within the Barrington community and then reaching out to a wider area. Share-a-smile Chicago works in conjunction with BACOA (Barrington Area Council for Old Age) to deliver a hot and nutritious meal to support home-bound seniors and people with disabilities, allowing them to live independently in their own homes, with dignity and self-respect. We also organize a monthly luncheon hosted by one of the 13 committee members for a group of seniors so that they can meet up socially. During these luncheons we usually have a guest speaker, musician or play a game of bingo. These get-togethers are stimulating and help our senior citizens foster connections with their peers and have some fun. Once a year, Share-a-smile Chicago organizes a fund-raiser to benefit a senior citizen project. In the preceding years our fundraisers have contributed to a senior home called Sukhdam, located on the outskirts of Dehli, India; to welfare projects in Africa; to an international eye care […]

Chicago IL: Ali Zafar, Bollywood teen idol from Pakistan, will perform in the USA for the first time on Friday 26 April 2013 at the Sear Center Arena. He will be joined by singer Sunidhi Chauhan, who will be likewise presenting all her hot new numbers at this spectacular show hosted by Saahil and LA Tan Zafar, the versatile actor of many talents, will perform beyond your typical song and dance show. The Hearthrob Ali Zafar will rock you with his dance numbers famous song Madhubala from Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, Tere Bin Laden, London Paris New York, and sing his super hit tracks like “Channo”,”Jhoom”, “Masty”, “Huqa Pani” and many more surprises by these dynamic stage performers!Ali Zafar, who has acted in 5–6 Bollywood films. Chicago audiences will get to enjoy numbers from comedy film Chashme Badur directed by David Dhawan, which is yet to be released. Zafar performed on Feb. 17 at the “Temptations Reloaded 2013” festival in Muscat with Katrina Kaif and Shahrukh Khan. The Sensational Sunidhi Chauhan is coming to you with her new Hit songs, “Halkat Jawani”, “Disco Deewane” and many more. Halkat Jawani from the movie Heroine, Disco Deewane from Student of the Year, […]

Chicago IL: Air India (AI) Midwest held its annual awards program for about 150 attendees on Friday, March 1, 2013 at Meadows Club, Rolling Meadows, IL. Guests were seated at tables allocated by their Indian city of origin. Regional manager for the Americas Riwo Norbu had flown in from New York to join Air India Midwest Manager Rishikant Singh in presenting plaques to travel agents, who had generated the most revenue for the airline for fiscal year 2011–2012. Guests were treated to a quiz, a game, photography sessions, and dinner, followed by dancing on the floor. Rishikant Singh, who has 25 years of experience with AI, clarified that such recognition is an incentive to business partners to do even better and introduced Norbu, who quipped that he “expects a better performance next year.” Singh then introduced the rest of the Chicago AI team. A rapid slideshow on the past achievements into the 81st year of service and current operations of India’s national carrier followed starting with the course charted out by JRD Tata’s vision and his maiden flight in 1932. Centered in Delhi and Mumbai, AI and its partners service more than fifty destinations with 101 operational aircraft including the […]