Month: May 2011

A Sikh Community Vaisakhi Parade (Nagar Kieran) was organized by the Gurudwara Sahib of Chicago on Saturday May 28, 2011. The parade was to observe a belated Vaisakhi Day which is in mid April, but was delayed due to the Chicago outdoor weather. The parade ended just in time about an hour before it started to rain heavily. Several hundred Sikh community memebrs participated in the parade. A sea of orange turbans and dupattas was visible on Devon Avenue East of Westeren Avenue. Men, women, and children of all ages dressed in ethnic dresses marched in the parade singing Gurbaani hymns, and raising slogans of “Jo Bole So Nihaal……Sat Siri Akaal,” (whosoever believes that God is True…is a happy and contended person). Members from Palatine Illinois Gurudwara led by president Harkirat Singh Sandhu, members from Wheaton Illinois Gurudwara, Oak Creek Wisconsin Gurudwara, Crown Point Indiana, and Indianapolis Indiana Gurudwara members came in to march in the parade with decorated floats and marching units. The parade was led by the “Panj Pyare” (The Five Beloved Ones) carrying Nishan Sahib (Sikh Community Flags), and a float carrying “Guru Granth Sahib” (Sikh Scripture) on a “Palaki” under a canopy. The Keertan (singing of […]

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Chicago, IL: On Wednesday, May 25, 2011, Chicago’s top restaurants, community leaders and five hundred guests will join hands at the River East Art Center, 435 East Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60611 to support the milestone achievements one of Chicago’s leading domestic violence agencies – Apna Ghar Inc. Apna Ghar’s 3rd annual Taste for Life event to raise over $63,000 for women and children facing domestic violence. Janet Davies, of ABC 7 Chicago, served as master of ceremonies and rocked the River East Art Center with her wit and enthusiasm. Entertainment included dancers from Taol Fusion, Chicago Dhamaal, Trinity Irish Dancers and DSSProductions. “This is one of our most popular events of the year. It is the time when our supporters come out to celebrate Apna Ghar’s groundbreaking work with survivors of domestic violence. Join us for an evening of the best international food and wine that Chicago offers” said Rambha Radhakrishnan M.D. President of the Board of Directors. Apna Ghar provides culturally-appropriate, multilingual services, including emergency shelter, to survivors of domestic abuse with a primary focus on the South Asian and other immigrant communities Apna Ghar was started by five Asian American women activists, who established a domestic violence […]

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Bensenville IL: Bensenville IL: The annual Health Fair was successfully concluded at Manav Seva Mandir, 101 S Church Rd Bensenville, IL on Sunday, May 22, 2011 from 8.15 AM to 11 AM. An annual Health Fair was organized at Manav Seva Mandir with 350 patients getting free health check up. The event took place in Mahalakshmi hall. Long lines of participants early in the morning show the success of this activity for the last several years. This year we gave them numbers as they walk in. and then they can seat in the temple in chairs. They call by numbers, fill out form and start tests without waiting in lines. As per Jayantibhai Thakkar, this was the 28th Health Fair coordinated by him. The first one was started at Manav Seva Mandir back in 1989 in Manav Seva Mandir and he continued this service in other temples like Midwest Swaminarayan temple, Vashnav Samaj temple and Jalaram temple. It is important to recognize his selfless and dedicated work on people’s health check up, by which more than 7,800 patients have benefited so far. More than 20 doctors and 100 health professionals provided their volunteer services on this day. Registration and front […]

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Grayslake, IL: The famous Munni Begum returned to Chicago from Pakistan to perform a charity concert at the College of Lake County. The Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Association of Greater Chicago (AMUAA-GC) organized the sensational show. All proceeds of the show went towards funding education projects for poor girls in India. Munni Begum resided in Chicago for many years and currently resides in Pakistan but that did not stop her from coming back to give music enthusiasts a night to remember. Many loyal fans attended the show to listen to her remarkable ghazals and geets that have mesmerized audiences for decades. She began her singing career in the 1970s in Karachi. Her hits include classics like Ek Bar Muskura Do, Teri Soorat Nigahon Mein, Ae Mere Humnasheen and even recent upbeat dance pieces like Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. Munni Begum received the Pride of Performance award from Governor Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan in 2008. The performance was nearly four hours of uninterrupted musical bliss with an exception of a brief tea break intermission. During the intermission fans and media had the opportunity to greet and talk to the legend. Along with Munni Begum, local artists also performed melodious ghazals and Bollywood hits. […]

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Chicago, IL: Shri Swaminarayan Temple, 397 Northgate Parkway, Wheeling, IL celebrated its 20th Anniversary with great enthusiasm and many various religious programs on May 21, 2011 to May 29, 2011. The temple was established and inaugurated in May 26th 1991. Religious programs during earlier in past few weeks included such events as, nonstop Swaminarayan Dhun for 20 hours, nonstop recital of Janmangal Stotra for 20 hours and recital of Janmangal Stotra for one hour each Sunday for 20 Sundays, Samuh Mahapuja, etc. Ten days of grand celebrations and religious programs were planned and carried out. Starting Saturday May 21st May 2011, Satsangijivan Katha was narrated by the Temple Swamiji Shri Kaivalyswarup Swami for one week. On Saturday 27th 2011 Maruti Yagna was performed which started in early morning till about 6PM. On same day around 4:00 PM a special grand Shobhaytra –parade- took place to welcome and to celebrate the presence of future Acharya of Shri Laxminarayan Dev -Vadtal-Gadi, PP 108 Shri Lalji Maharaj Shri Nrigendraprasadji. Six Swamijis were also invited from various Temples of Shri Laxminarayan Dev -Vadtal-Gadi for this occasion, including PP Shri Satyaprakash (SP) Swamiji and PP Shri Chappaiya Swamiji from Gadhada Temple, PP Shri Nityswarup Swamiji […]

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Chicago IL: Mahatma to Narendra Modi, Gujarat has seen it all. One of India’s fastest growing economy, Gujarat plays an integral part in the very existence of India. Every Gujarati who lives in the Land of Liberty thinks and feel proud about his or her home state. Last year Naren Patel, President of Vishwa Gujarati Samaj USA, celebrated the Golden Anniversary of state of Gujarat or ‘Swarnim’ Gujarat on May 31, 2010 at Waterford Banquet. Following Naren Patel’s celebration, various other Gujarati organization also celebrated Swarnim Gujarat in Chicago. This year, India TV (USA) celebrated 51st Gujarat Din at The Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way,Elgin, IL on Sunday, May 15, 2011. Whole Program was effectively accomplished with the support from Chicago’s Gujarati community and Various Associations, volunteers, renowned physicians, Politicians, Prominent businessmen, Community leaders and public at large took part in the making the event a grand success. In all, more than 900 people attended the program. Apparently, it was a moment of great excitement for NRI Guajarati living in USA. The celebration was held with much pomp and pleasure organized by well known TV entertainer Mina-Kishore-Kruti-Shilp Purohit, owners/director of ‘India TV (USA)’. Personal Commitment and community support made […]

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Chicago IL: The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS) collaborated with Chicago Children’s Museum (CCM) at Navy Pier to organize the Passport to the World: India Festival Celebrations on May 15th, 2011. More than 300 community members participated. “This is 11th year in a row that PCS has organized this event. PCS was on CCM’s original planning committee when they created this event eleven years ago, and has participated in it ever since,” said Rajinder Singh Mago of PCS who compeered the program inside the museum. The PCS performances depicted a mosaic of diverse traditions from the Indian state of Punjab including ethnic dresses, Dhol music, and the Punjabi folk dances Bhangra and Gidha performed by the local Punjabi youth groups. Attendees also participated in turban tying, Bhangra dance lessons, and other Indian performing arts. An outdoor procession planned for more than 200 participants with Dhol drums and street dancing at South deck of Navy Pier had to be moved inside due to an off-season drizzle, and windy conditions, but failed to dampen the spirits of the participants. As the Punjabi procession entered into the Chicago Children’s Museum, the whole place drowned in the echo of the melodious sound beats […]

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