Day: 5 April 2012

The message of Mahatma Gandhi to be shared by children from the slums of Gujarat through dance and music in 10 major US cities Ahmedabad, India, March 22, 2012 – EKATVA (www.ekatva.org) is an experiment to touch the lives and spirit of 16 underprivileged children ages 11 – 15 through dance, music and art, while inspiring the souls of thousands across the world. Sixteen children from some of the largest slums of Ahmedabad, Gujarat were selected through a nine month audition process, and have been trained and developed by mentors from Manav Sadhna (www.manavsadhna.org), a non profit based at the Mahatma Gandhi Ashram, and teachers from Darpana Academy (www.darpana.com) to perform a 90-minute dance-drama production sharing Mahatma Gandhi’s message of ‘Oneness’. After a successful tour throughout India, The EKATVA show and tour will begin touring the United States on May 6, 2012. The show will be performed by the children in the following cities/venues (visit www.ekatva.org for event registration and ticket information): May 6, 2012 Sunday – Chicago | The Athenaeum Theater May 12, 2012 Saturday – Chicago | Glenbard East High School May 16, 2012 Wednesday – Washington, DC | Preston Auditorium May 17, 2012 Thursday – Washington, DC […]

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New Brunswick, NJ: This was the twentieth year presentation of Naya Andaz Dance competition. NAYA ANDAZ is the brainchild of 1947 Production & Entertainment, Inc., a U.S. based production house. Both the show and the company have continually grown with each other. The years of continuous enthusiasm and zeal is reflected in the quality of the show, which has bettered with each year. Team Naya Andaz hosted the unparalleled, spectacular 20th Annual Naya Andaz Dance competition at the most prestigious and popular State Theater, New Brunswick, New Jersey on the evening of Saturday, March 24th. Bollywood’s internationally renowned luminaries and celebrities, gorgeous actress Manisha Koirala as Chief Guest, and Legendary choreographer, producer, and director Farah Khan as the Guest of Honor, all attended this sold out show. Petite, beautiful Kavita Kaushik (FIR – Serial famed) wonderfully hosted the entire 4 hour long show with her talents, artistic brilliance and grace. Also veteran Nisha Mathur (AVS Channel host) lent her experience and expertise in co-hosting this increasingly popular and demanding show. The highlights of this 20th annual show are plenty and note worthy. Every year the participating groups exhibit a wide range of artistic brilliance, enthusiasm, grit, determination and an immense […]

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Chicago IL: A trendy night club in the heart of downtown Chicago, Excalibur, became the hub for Yoga Rave, the counter party of the year. 800 plus participants rocked out to mantras and music from the Argentinean band, So What Project!, on a seven city tour to the United States for the first time. An unprecedented event, where the only high in the jam packed venue came from dancing, meditation and yoga. Yoga Rave was organized by the International Association for Human Values to benefit their inner city schools ‘Yes! For School’ and the ‘Prison Smart’ programs. The organizers said that they wanted Yoga Rave participants to experience a natural high, in an alcohol free, smoke free environment. Certainly, that goal became a reality, for all to witness as the crowds danced wildly to the beats of the high decibel Argentinian band, flowing into Meditation and Yoga. Yoga Rave was a unique celebration that took the crowd from movement to stillness and back, giving the word celebration a new dimension. Participants described the event as “history in the making,” and a “miracle.” As the jam packed venue rocked out to music and wild dancing, a casual observer might have mistaken […]

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Chicago IL: Mahendra Ramanlal Mehta, a pioneer in the legal profession, passed away on March 29, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois, USA after a brief illness. Born in 1930 in Godhra, Gujarat, Mahendrabhai was a renouned legal scholar specializing in Immigration law, a philanthropist and a community leader with membership in various professional and community organizations. The second eldest son of Ramanlal and Kamalaben Mehta, he worked hard and obtained a law degree at a young age of 32 from L. A. Shah Law College in Ahmedabad, India. In 1956 he married Shankutala Parikh and had two children. In 1968, he immigrated to the USA, starting his career in the New York City working, learning and gaining experience in US legal system. Due to his fast learning ability and his immeasurable, impressive knowledge of the law that he acquired in a brief period in the US, he was granted an unrestricted law license in Illinois without formally attending a law school or appearing for the Bar examination; this was a rare exception granted to only a few with his kind of expertise and knowledge. After briefly working in Chicago Title and Trust Company, he opened his law practice in 1973. His […]

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Chicago IL: Manav Seva Mandir celebrated Ramanavami Festival on Sunday the April 1, 2012 at 101 South Church Road Bensenville, IL. from 9-00 am onwards. On this auspicious and joyous occasion, devotees of Hinduism are encouraged to aspire to emulate the ideal virtues of Lord Rama and chant ‘Shree Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram’ so as to get the most benefit from the principal Deity as well as to help one to worship the Deity on a continuous basis for furthering spiritual growth and experience. A week long deliberation started on the first day of Chaitra to the ninth day correspondingly known as Navratri, which was enthusiastically celebrated daily in the evening and on last day, Ramanavmi all the deliberations started from 11:00 am. Exactly at 12:00 pm Ram Janam was performed amongst loud cheering of the devotees, ‘Shri Ram Jai Shri Ram Jai Jai Ram”. There was a long queue for Darshan and thereafter, Mahaprasad was taken by one and all, where Farali and regular Prasad was distributed. Jaihind restaurant was the caterer. Importance of Ramnavmi: According to Dr. C.L.Shastri, the Chief Priest at Manav Seva Mandir, “ Bhagwan Shri Ram was Purshottam (Poornavtar). Maharshi Valmiki had created […]

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Chicago IL: The Blind Foundation for India (BFI) hosted a Musical Program on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Avery Coonley Performing Arts Center, 1400 Maple Avenue, Downers Grove, IL The event “Sunehare Geeton ki Shaam, Ankhon ki Roshni ke Naam” was organized Dr. Manu Vora, Dr. Dipak Shah and Dr. Sheela Shah for the benefit of Blind Foundation for India’s projects in India. The program started with dinner from 6:30 – 7:30 pm and Musical Entertainment commenced at 7:30 pm. The evening program included Mr. Malik Miraj of Hyderabad, India, a winner of Laughter Channel, dance performances by Soorya Dance School of Northbrook, and melodious songs by Drs. Dipak and Sheela Shah. They were accompanied by Mr. Hitesh Master and Orchestra Sa Re Ga Ma. The purpose of the Music Program Sunahare Geeton ki Shaam , Aankhon ki Roshni ke Naam was to enjoy the evening of entertainment and provide a helping hand to improve the plight of over 15 million blind people in India. The cost of a Cataract operation in India is $20 as compared to $4,000 in the United States. The Blind Foundation for India (BFI) is a registered 501 (c) (3) charitable organization in operation […]

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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 […]

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