Month: March 2013

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 […]