Day: 22 January 2014

Chicago IL: Neither snow nor sleet of January 18, 2014 could dampen the spirit of the over 200 attendees who joined the Second Annual Lohri celebration hosted by the United Punjabis of America (UPA) at Ashyana Banquet in Downers Grove, Illinois. In keeping with joyous occasion, the audience came prepared to enjoy an evening of great festivity, fantastic Punjabi food and the rhythms of Bhangra music. Welcoming the audience, Manohar Sharma, the president of UPA, remarked on the significance of the festival of Lohri and the goodwill among people that it nurtures. Dharam Punwani, a member of the Board, reiterated the mission of UPA to be “preserving the rich Punjabi heritage, enhancing and strengthening the Punjabi community, and becoming a positive force for enhancing our neighborhoods, cities, states, country and the world”. Serving as the hosts of the evening, Om Dhingra and Pratibha Jairath kept the program flowing with charm and humor. The entertainment started with the singing of Sunder Mundariye led by Shammi Mittal, Pratibha and Ramesh Malhan. Then the audience was treated to a beautiful dance by young girls to a medley of Bollywood songs that was followed by an equally delightful dance by two of the mothers […]

Chicago, IL: Hari Om Mandir located at 6N020 Medinah Rd, Medinah, IL celebrated Lohri with traditional cultural dance and Bonfire on Saturday, January 12, 2014. The festival of Lohri was celebrated on 12th of January with traditional fervor and enthusiasm. The devotees witnessed a lively night of blazing bonfire. Lohri was distinguished to honor the day of harvesting crop. The time was considered very auspicious and special to a farmer as it rewarded him of his toil all the year round. A week before the Lohri preparations started including decorating the Mandir. A nicely decorated Punjabi Beda (Village) was created by Shastri Yogesh Pandya, Pt. Dinesh Kumar, Vikrant , Babu and Suchitra Sarkar; giving the real feeling of being in a Punjabi pind. It was decorated with Straw blocks, Chullah, Charkha (Spinning wheel), fresh vegetables, and 6 foot long sugar canes and many small decorative items creating a Punjabi village atmosphere. Lohri is also one of the most celebrated harvest festival in Punjab. It is the time for people to thank God for his kindness and for a plentiful harvest in the coming season. It is a time for communion celebration. A large number of devotees attended the Lohri function […]