Month: September 2013

Chicago IL: Chicago the vibrant city with its enormous blend of music from every part of the world is truly a unique city to live in, to visit, to mingle with the people, and above all, to feel the musical pulse that is never-ending. It is here that Chicago Indian Icon concept was born, nurtured, brought to a reality by several auditions at Ashyana Banquets and culminated in the grand finale at the Meadows Club on Saturday, September 21, 2013. The highlights of the show were Mr. Shekhar Suman, a movie actor and TV personality of the millennium as a host and Pt Ronu Majumdar, Grammy Award Fame as a celebrity judge… The overwhelming success of the Chicago Indian Icon grand finale was largely due to each and every one of you who are music lovers and support such an event by your presence at the show. It was as truly a unique, historic moment. It is also equally important to place on record the tremendous, unwavering efforts, and long hours of commitment by the five members of the Indian Event Management team, namely, Brij Sharma (President), Pratibha Jairath (Vice President), Sharan Walia (Director of Planning and Management), Raju Bankapur […]

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Aurora, IL: Sriranga School of Dance celebrated its school anniversary on September 21, 2013 at Sri Sai Baba Mandir in Aurora, IL, according to its press report. Organized by artistic director Srivani Vokkarane, the evening showcased young talents in Kuchipudi, semi-classical, and folk dances. After an invocation song by Manasa Sarma, a Sanskrit verse (shloka) invoking Lord Ganesha, goddess Saraswathi, and the teaching lineage (gurus) was performed by dancers Akshita Mogulla, Anagha Surampalli, and Vokkarane in classical Kuchipudi style. A semi-classical “Lamp dance” by young budding talents Akhila Kamasamudram, Anitha Konda, Ridhi Diddi, Saahithi Pebbati, and Suhanidatt Seeryada followed. A classical “flower-offering” (Pushpaanjali) in Raaga Naatai, set to Aadi taala, was then presented by Mogulla, Surampalli, and Rainisha Doddikindi. Abhilasha Kashyap, Bhavni Yalavarthy, Bhriti Harish, Myra Chowdhary, Pooja Nadiger, and Saagarika Kiran, went to perform Kolata, a traditional folk dance from the South Indian state of Karnataka with colored sticks set to a fast paced song. Doddikindi returned with a classical Kuchipudi solo in praise of the “Wonderful Spectacle (Kauthuvam) of Ganesha” dancing in Raaga Hamsadhwani set to Aadi thaala. The highlight was Vokkarane dancing Tarangam on a brass plate to the well-known Krishna Leela Tarangini describing Lord Krishna. The […]

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Intro: MAFS celebrates 21 years of community services with Magical show, Dazzling Fashion show, Bollywood Dances, Soul rendering music and numerous dignitaries here & abroad Schaumburg, IL – People were awe struck, when they saw illusionary tricks of world famous magician, Dennis Watkins at the Metropolitan Asian Family Services annual fund raiser dinner to cover the gaps in State, Federal and local funding . MAFS is a not-for profit organization that provides an array of services to promote the well-being of South Asian immigrants celebrated 21 years of community service on September 21st, at India House Schaumburg. In the 21 years since its inception in 1992, MAFS has transformed and grown exponentially to serve the needs of the community. The present day MAFS serves the community through its various developed programs: Public Benefits Assistance, Citizenship and Immigration Assistance, an Adult Literacy Program, Light and Heat Program, Hot Lunch Program, Computer classes, and others. The program was started by the lightening of auspicious ‘Deep” by Kusumben Patel, Founder of Global Gayatri, followed by Ganesh-vandana prayer dance by Catherine Jafri and her group and welcome address of Dr. Firdaus Jafri, president MAFS. In his keynote remark, Bill Foster, US Congressman commended the […]

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Chicago IL: Over 50 people gathered to celebrate old and new Bollywood songs on Saturday evening, September 14, 2013 at Saffron Indian Restaurant, 602 West Wise Road, Schaumburg, IL. Organized and presented by Ishaan Ahmed and Pramada Pathak of Chicago Desi Karaoke Group (CDKG), this “Musical Dhamaka Karaoke Night” was coordinated by Sanjay Varghese and Vipin Gulati. Ten singers, both amateur and professional, sang Bollywood songs nonstop from 7:30 till 11:30AM. The admission fee of $20 included vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare. Ishaan Ahmed began by singing “Tum Agar Saath Dene ka Vaada karo”by Mahender Kapoor from the movie Hamraaz; Sanjay Varghese “Akele Akele Kahan Ja Rahe Ho” by Mohammed Rafi from An evening in Paris; Vipin Gulati “Tere Chere pe wo jaado hai” by Kishore Kumar from Dharmatma; Pramada Pathak and Sanjay Varghese “Tujhe Deka to ye Jaana Sanam” by Lata Mangeshkar and Kumar Sanu from Dilwaale dulhaniya le jayenge; Ramesh Chalam ”Raat kali Ek Kwaab mein ayee” by Kishore Kumar from Budha Mil Gaya; Nipa Shah and Ramesh Chalam “Dekha ek khwaab to ye silsile hue” by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore kumar from Silsila; Mukesh Shah “Lakhon hai nigah mein zindagi ki rah mein” by Mohammed Rafi from Phir […]

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Chicago IL: Swami Mukundananda, founder of JK Yog and Bal-Mukund, launched his spiritual program in Chicagoland on Saturday, September 14, 2013, with a noon session of yoga, meditation, bhajans, and spiritual discourse titled “Body, Mind, Soul” at The Meadows Club, Rolling Meadows, Ill. Event sponsor and guest of honor Naren Patel who attended the event with his wife and sister, Lina Patel, welcomed the Swami with words of praise for his authenticity. Dressed in loose attire, attendees had brought long yoga mats for the exercises. The proceedings were conducted by Ajay Chandok. The Swami’s writings, songs, and other output were available in the form of books and digital media. Swami Mukundananda led the assembly in performing an ordered sequence of asanas (physical postures) accompanied by regulated breathing, shifting of attention to different parts of the body, and creative visualizations. In every case, he explained the various benefits in precise medical terms not forgetting to mention precautions for those suffering from specific ailments or subject to special conditions. Beginning with sitting (frog, etc.) postures, they transitioned to reclining (crocodile, etc.) asanas, and ended up with a “subtle body relaxation” in the corpse posture (shavaasana) to detach the soul from the body […]

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Chicago IL: Air Tours, Inc., “One Stop Travel Shop” hosted its annual customer appreciation banquet on September 22, 2013 at The Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows, Ill for their Ticket / Holiday & Cruise Customers. There were many raffles including Two Business Class Air Tickets & Vacation Packages to Dubai/Singapore/Malaysia/Thailand/Turkey & India and many surprise prizes for their valued clients, the Mumbai Masti Group (MMG) provided live entertainment with full energy. The Air Tours have been market leader in Midwest Region for Tickets since inception and today is one among the top consolidators for the most major airlines. The hall was packed with more than 600 valued guest & invitees. The event started with socializing hour of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, The Air Tours Staff welcomed the guest from the entrance and continued the hospitality, Program started by MC Beena Patel welcomed the guests present, and also clients who could not make it, to celebrate the company’s growth and achievements. Air Tours President Mr. Mafat Patel, VP Mr. Tulsi Patel, and Founder Mr. Amrit Patel—Joined by Amathi Patel and Medstar Laboratories CEO Mr. Naren Patel lit the auspicious lamp. MC recognized Mohammed Anwar from Etihad Airways, CEO Ravi Shankar from […]

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Chicago IL: Hindi Lovers Club of Chicago celebrated Hindi Diwas Day and 150th Anniversary of Swami Vivekanand on 15th of Sept 2013 at Ashyana Banquets,1620 75th Street, Downers Grove, IL. Consul General Dr. Ausaf Sayeed was the Chief Guest. Hindi Lover’s Club is the first club of its kind for American Indians and showcases the true potential and versatility of the age-old language. This club is a part of the Indian culture and is a part of the Indian identity in Chicago. Hindi Lovers Club was officially formed as a non-for-profit social welfare organization on September 24, 2010 by three Hindi enthusiasts: Gurbachan Shewakramani, Usha Kamaria and Manjit Gill. Its main goal is to promote Hindi in simple ways, like day to day talking, writing our thoughts in Hindi bringing out Hindi literature which has been buried in this western world. Hindi Diwas was celebrated on 15th of September to commemorate the declaration of Hindi as the National Language of India on 14th September, 1949. Vinita Gulbani is the President of Hindi Lovers Club and it is her keen desire to promote their activities on a large scale and expand its horizons to greater heights. Vinita Gulbani in her unique […]

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Chicago IL: Bharde Jholi Presented “Mehfil –E-Sama & Ghazal”, a Special Performance by Famous Qawwal Amjad Sabri, Son of the Legend Gulam Fareed Sabri, on Friday, September 13, 2013 at The Meadows Club, 2950 Golf Road Rolling Meadows, IL. Bharde Jholi is a group formed by Four likeminded friends with a view to present various programs. They are: Aqeel Akhtar, Ahmed Karim Jangda, Abdul R. Jangda, and Abdul Wahid Karim. “ Mehfil- E Sama & Ghazal” started with welcoming by Amin Haider Principal and MC of the evening. He introduced ‘Bhar De Jholi Group and also introduced Amjeed Sabri. Amjeed Sabri visited Chicago after lapse of 7 years in the same place, accompanied by Vocalist- Mohammed Salim Sabri and Talha Sabri, they were ably supported by Pervaiz Bijli on Dholak; Jamil Tampoo on Tabla and Dholak and Robin Jon on Key Board. Amjeed Sabri literally mesmerized the personified audience so much so that they were made dance on every songs and also made them rain Dollars in appreciation. He sang many wonderful songs lik, ‘Bharde Jholi’ ‘Mera Koi Nahi Tere Siva Allah’ Ye Shaadi Hai Mere Maulaki’ ‘Mohe Angana Angana Apu Khwaja Mere’ ‘Piyaki Shadi Men Tan Man Dhan’ ‘ […]

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Chicago IL: Dada JP Vaswani’s commemorated his 95th birthday in Chicago on September 15, 2013 with an evening discourse on the “Five Pillars of Spirituality” at the Marriott Hotel in Burr Ridge, Ill. Among the guests of honor were the Mayors of Oak Brook and of Burr Ridge. Almost 500 devotees and members of the public, composed largely of members of the Sindhi community, filled the entire hall. This free event was preceded by an hour of melodious bhajans in Hindi by Pramila Bhatia and in English by Vinay Vaswani, a touching documentary presenting the work of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission in bringing joy to the poor and helpless in India, including dogs and other animals, and followed by a question and answer session with the renowned humanitarian. Sister Krishna Kumari presented the activities of the Pune Mission and Vaswani’s recent books brought from India, several of which focused on women. His birthday is of special religious significance for devotees. Ashiyana Narayani recounted his life work and presented her Chicago Youth group of volunteers, who were felicitated for their selfless services. Chair of the Sadhu Vaswani Center (SVC) of Chicago Gopal Lalmalani, who is also Mayor of Oakbrook, introduced Mickey […]

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