Month: April 2012

Chicago IL: Association of Indians in America, Inc. (Illinois Chapter) held their Inaugural Function of AIA National Executive Committee and Annual Banquet and Dinner on Sunday, April 29, 2012 at Ashyana Banquets, 1620 West 75th Street, Downers Grove, IL. During social hour everybody greeted each other and enjoyed a casual evening accompanied by soft drinks and delicious snacks. The cultural event and banquet dinner followed thereafter with the Honorable Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County as the Guest of Honor. Beena Patel, the charming and dynamic MC of the evening proudly announced the election of Dr. Ghanshyam Pandey, as the National President of AIA. The program started with the American National Anthem performed by Nishal Patel (Grandson of Naren Patel) which was followed by the Indian National Anthem performed by Mr. Anil Sharma. Welcome address was delivered by Mr. Surinder Rametra, Vice President, AIA, and he welcomed all the invited guests and members of AIA. Cultural program started with a group Dance presented by Payalia Dance Studio, Choreographed by Trupti Patel, and this was followed by a Hindi Song sung by Nishal Patel. Thereafter Beena Patel introduced Dr. Ghanshyam Pandey, a renowned Research Scientist, Philanthropist and […]

Chicago IL: Hand in Hand USA, a non-profit organization for humanitarian aid celebrated their 10th anniversary with a program that comprised great inspiring speeches along with good entertainment and excellent food. Over 250 people enjoyed this event held at Ramada Inn in Glendale Heights on Saturday, April 28. Entering guests were treated to some delightful hors d’oeuvres after the registration. The program started on time with a prayer song “Jyoth se Jyoth Jalathe Chalo” by Ms Shaila Khedkar followed by introductory remarks by Mr. Puneet Mansharmani, Master of the Ceremony and Smt. Durga Chunduri, President of HIH USA.She gave a brief report about the Organization and their current humanitarian projects in India which are Balashram, Outreach Medical Programs, Health clinics, Disaster Relief and.. so on. It was mentioned that the Balashram in Orissa started with 40 children initially in 2004 and has gradually grown to 360. Dr. Gopal Lalmalani, mayor of Oak Brook who delivered an inspiring keynote speech and encouraged the guests to give charitably their time and money. He started with an eloquent message, “Give, give and give. One who truly gives – lives,” re-instated wisely the privileged message he brought from his Master Dada Vaswani in Pune, […]

Chicago IL: Punjabi Heritage Organization celebrated “Vaisakhi 2012” highlighting the traditional Punjabi culture. People dressed in Punjabi suits and colorful turbans, and kids wearing colorful costumes added to the grace of this cultural gala, which was held from 5:00 pm onwards on Saturday, April 28 2012 at TAFT High School, 6530 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, IL. Kids of all ages and adults participated in this mega cultural event which were highlighted through 22 performances of popular Punjabi dances, Punjabi songs, comedy and ofcourse world famous Bhangra and Gidha. This program was a pure representation of Punjab and Punjabi community in USA with primary focus on keeping up with their traditions, values, heritage and glory. Participants and spectators from all over Midwest attended this cultural gala and enjoyed every bit of it. The entire program was nicely coordinated and the audience of more than 500 enjoyed the whole program until finish. Vaisakhi also known as Baisakhi, is an ancient harvest festival celebrated across the northern Indian subcontinent, especially in the Punjab region by the Sikh nation as this day commemorates the establishment of the Khalsa. The beginning of the Harvest Season and birth of Khalsa usually 1st. of Vaishakh (Usually […]

Rolling Meadows, IL: Dhrishti presented “The Legend Returns” a live music concert by Pankaj Udhas. This event began at 8:30 PM on Friday, April 27, 2012 at the elegant Meadows Club Grand Ballroom located at 2950 W Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, IL. Celebrating 30 years of his musical journey, it was an unforgettable performance. Legendary Ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas mesmerized an audience of 912 in a sizzling five hour program. In a concert which was memorable both for its quality and content, Pankaj Udhas changed the content of the concert to include several light classical and older renditions of his, to cater to a very animated audience. The concert which finished at 1.30 pm drew repeated standing ovations from the attendees. Sajni Entertainment, founded by Mayur Ganger has been bringing world class entertainment year after year to the audience of Midwest region. They have been enthralling millions of people over the years with sold out shows. Sajni Entertainment has brought some of the biggest names in the Indian and Pakistani entertainment industry to Chicago. This year they organized Pankaj Udhas show in Chicago. Pankaj Udhas is an Indian singer, credited in the Indian music industry, along with other musicians like […]

Chicago IL: A team of leading scientists, artists and business leaders currently touring 10 North American cities this spring, delivered a series of cutting-edge presentations entitled “A New Paradigm: Veda, Consciousness, the Ramayana, and the Self.” The tour includes visits to San Diego; San Francisco; Vancouver; Fairfield, Iowa; Chicago; Toronto; Montreal; Boston; New York; and Washington, DC. www.newparadigmtour.org The Chicago New Paradigm presentation took place at The Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows, (Chicagoland area) and featured a pre-event social hour. A dinner followed the presentation. Thousands of people were notified of the event, which sold out quickly. Even though 650 registered, hundreds more continued to stream in at various stages throughout the evening. The event explored the meeting point of science and spirituality by presenting pioneering research that reveals the Veda and the Ramayana as blueprints of our body and the entire universe. Extensive research on these breakthrough discoveries has also documented collective benefits for society, including the potential for creating world peace. The event featured a video presentation of 1,000 Vedic Pandits in Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa, chanting the Veda. The speakers at this event come from diverse backgrounds. Tony Nader, M.D., Ph.D., neuroscientist and researcher, headlined the event […]

Chicago IL: The Indian American Medical Association’s Charitable Foundation, which operates a free community health clinic in Chicago’s West Ridge community, hosted a Fundraising Dinner and Semi Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the Waterford Banquet, 933 S. Riverside Drive, Elmhurst, Illinois. Money raised will benefit the clinic, which is run by Volunteers, Doctors and Providers of Medical Services such as Free Lab Tests and Free Medication. The event was well attended by physicians, politicians, Chicago’s prominent businessmen, community leaders and general public. Fundraising Target was $100,000 however despite the country’s challenging economy, more than four hundred members participated in the event and generously pledged donations totaling $75,000. The Chief Guest of this program was Pat Basu, M.D., M.B.A. Chief Medical Officer: Virtual Radiologic, White House Fellow 2010-2011 and Dr. Raju Ramanathan-Cook County Hospital, Chicago CEO. Dr. S. waminathan, past president of the Illinois State Medical Society, Mafatbhai Patel, CEO of Patel Brothers, Hiran Patel (National Republic Bank), Mr. Naren Patel, Chairman of Medstar Laboratory Inc. and President of AIA and Care and Share, Beena Patel Chief Deputy Clerk Cook County and many more attended this program. Booth: Seasons hospice, Yoga & Veda- Ramayana spiritual booth, NLVS medical […]

Chicago IL: Gujarati Samaj Chicago (GSC) Proudly presented Sangeet Sandhya starting at 7:00PM, Saturday – April 21st, 2012 at Des Plaines Theatre, 1476 Miner Street, Des Plaines, IL 60016. Recently renovated Deplane Theater was filled to its capacity. Over 500 plus audience enjoyed the program till midnight. It was an evening of Beautiful Nostalgic Melodies specially directed to the grown-up audience of 1st or 2nd generation Desi, Performed by renowned SARGAM Musical Group. GSC President Suryakant Patel and his wife Urvashiben Patel warmly welcomed the audience and assured them of memorable evening. The program was sponsored by Dr. Manish Pandya. Mr. Jitubhai Bhagwnkar, owner of this historical theater was also participated actively to promote the event. Female singer Nalini Parikh started the program in her melodious voice with ‘Ishwar Satya Hai Satya Hi Shiva Hai Satyam Shivam Suneram’. Then she continued with other hits like ‘Sathya Sathiya….’ ‘Badmash Dil Tujhe….etc interrupted by thunderous applause and scream of “Once More” from the pack. program was amplified by live colorful and rhythmic energetic dance performed by Shama Shah and Madhuri of Bharat Natyam Mudra Dance Academy. This organization established and running since 1993. It’s director and team has trained nearly 100 students […]

Chicago IL: Hari Om Mandir, celebrated Ramnavami Mahotsav whole heartedly on Sunday, the 1st. April, 2012 at 6N020 Medinah Rd, Medinah, IL. Prayers started on Saturday, 11:00am onwards and Ramayan Path reading was undertaken from 11:00am. Bhog Ceremony was on April 1st, 2012, when Ramjanam was celebrated at 12:00pm with Ram Dhoon ‘Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram’ and Bhajans. Aarti was done at 1:30pm and Ladoos were distributed to celebrate the occasion. Then all the devotees took Mahaprasad and dispersed chanting Shree Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram. Rajan and Aarty Singla, Sanjay and Shelly Gandhi, Raj and Meenu Jeethi, Hemant and Indhu Bhalla along with Tangri family did a wonderful arrangement for the Prabhu Ka Bhandara which went on for 24 hours. Ramnavami was celebrated on April 1st this year to proclaim the birth of Shree Ram, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. A major festival lasting 9 days will be celebrated all over India with many special events filled with religious fervor and gaiety. The most notable being the day-long readings of a 1,000 page poem from the Ramayana, a book about Shree Ram’s life. Other practices such as singing of hymns, reciting of Ramraksha Stotra […]

Chicago IL: Bollywood Milestones 1961-2011 musical charity concert was organized by Ekal Vidyalaya from 7:00 PM to 11:PM, on Saturday April 14, 2012 at Glenbard East High School, 1014 South Main St, Lombard, IL. Ekal had invited two young rising singers Samir Date and Dipalee Somaiya from Mumbai to help celebrate the milestone and raise more funds to continue their mission to eradicate illiteracy among the children of rural and tribal India with holistic empowerment. It was the singer’s twenty first performance of the tour that will span across several cities over the next five month period when in all forty two performances are to be staged. As always, Ekal included a extravagant dinner in its modest ticket price. All the attendees were served the dinner at around 5:00 pm. that included Puri, Mix Vegetables, Dudhi Halwo(Sweet), Fulwadi(Farsan),Chana, :Dal, Rice.. (food prepared by BAPS). After the dinner, the program started at around 7:00 pm. First of all Aum Stuti was recited. Yash Desai and her group recited Prarthna. Guest of Honor Mr Mafatbhai lighted a lamp with Ekal Chicago Chapter President and group of kids . Master of ceremony was performed by two youngsters Jugal Doshi and Sonali Majmudar. They […]