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Chicago IL: Some 30 religious organizations joined hands on September 27, 2013 under the banner of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHP-A) to celebrate Swami Vivekananda’s 150th Birth Anniversary at The Meadows Club, Rolling Meadows, Ill. These included Gayatri Gyan, Manav Seva, Hari Om, Shree Jalaram temple. Among the speakers at the banquet were Swami Sharanananda (Chinamya Mission), Stephen Knapp, Jeffrey Armstrong, and Subramanian Swamy. Distinguished guests included Raja Krishnamurthy, Swati Dandekar, Rajiv Malhotra, Nimish Tolia, Bharat Barai (grand sponsor), Ashish Sen, and Ratan Tata. The three MCs were Parth Mangrola, Birva Trivedi, and Harshil Patel. Event chairman Harendra Mangrola introduced Vivekananda. Theresa Mah read out a message on behalf of Illinois Governor Pat Quinn commending the Swami for having secured Hinduism’s place on the map of the world religions. There were video recorded messages of support from Sri Sri Ravishankar and Dr. Pranav Pandya head of Gayattri Shanti Kunj (Rishikesh). A message from Mohan Madhukar Bhagawat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was also read out. President Obama’s speech before the Indian Houses of Parliament in November 2010 was shown: “Instead of succumbing to division, you have shown that the strength of India—the very idea of India—is […]

Chicago IL: The annual Chicago South Asian Film Festival (CSAFF) treated movie buffs downtown over the entire weekend of Friday, Sep. 20, 2013 to the most recent wave of features and shorts by Desi and American film-makers from the subcontinent, North America (especially Los Angeles), and Europe. The opening (“Oass”) and closing night (“Club 60” and “The Reluctant Fundamentalist”) features were screened at the Showplace Icon Theater, and the rest at festival partner Columbia College’s Film Row. On Saturday morning, several film-makers participated in a press conference at Film Row, ably moderated by local Producer Snehal Patel, to speak about their respective creations, choices, techniques, and receptions. Debut Director Abhinav Shiv Tiwari’s US Premier of “Dew Drop” (Oass) portrays the disturbing plight of South Asian girls caught up against their will in the flourishing merciless flesh trade. The Hindi movie is fictionalized around the true story of Kiku, a Nepali abducted at the tender age of eleven from her idyllic rural playground by a trusted aunt under false pretenses to be drugged, raped, practically imprisoned, and brutalized in realistically portrayed Delhi brothels, before managing to escape through sheer perseverance. It was scripted and fleshed out with materials drawn from pan-South […]

Chicago IL: The Midwest Asian American Center (MAAC) hosted an informational fundraiser that conferred awards on distinguished members and offered an evening of food and entertainment. The dinner, which allowed MAAC board members to meet 400 people under the same roof, was held at India House Banquets in Schaumburg, on Friday, September 27, 2013. Six government departments set up booths in the lobby to provide the public information about their respective services for “community awareness” was this year’s theme. They were the Secretary of State mobile unit provides services as renewal of driver’s licenses, State ID, change of addresses, and vehicle plate stickers. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), represented by the Director Lori Petropolis and Public Relations Officer Amy Stern; Department of Human Services, represented by Jean Miller and Sara from Illinois Coalition of Immigrant Refugee Rights, explained Medicare and Medicaid; Attorney General’s Office, represented by Eric Salsado, to warn against consumer fraud and identity theft; Cook County Clerk’s office; Social Security office, represented by Doug Nyugen, advised seniors facing reductions in their supplementary income. MAAC Executive Director Vandana G. Dalal welcomed the guests and introduced Emcees Laurie Martin (MAAC board member) and Noman Khan (from Yeh Cheez entertainment). […]

Chicago IL: Members of Gandhi Trust of Skokie, Illinois, along with company of many dignitaries admirers, celebrated Gandhi Jayanti on the occasion of his 144th birth anniversary on October 2nd 2013, Wednesday. The event took place at the memorial of a larger than life statue of Bapu located at Heritage Park, Skokie, Illinois. The event kicked off by offering flowers and singing Mahatma’s all-religion prayers, lighting candles and reciting Bapu’s famous quotes, and speeches including paying homage to Father of the Nation. The favorite hymns of Gandhi were also recited on the occasion. The event was highlighted by the presence and blessing of Bhagvan Sri Sri Sri Viswayogi Viswamjee Maharj, founder of Viswayogi Institute of Medical Sicense in Gantur, Andhra Pradesh, India. Swamiji took special time to attend the ceremony during his world tour. He meditated and offered prayer and gave brief speech indicating the significance of Gandhi Jayanti celebration which transcends beyond commemorating Mahatma Gandhi’s birth and his life. He emphasized to follow and renounce violence and entirely devote themselves to Gandhi’s philosophy and principles of Ahimsa i.e living a life by following non-violence. The day now is also commemorated by many nations and cities including city of Skokie, […]

Bensenville, IL: The Guajarati Samaj Chicago (GSC) Board of Trustees, Members of Executive Committee and Volunteers hosted colorful Raas Garba festivity on the occasion of Navratri on September 28th, 2013 Saturday from 7:00pm. Onwards. This annual sacred event is celebrated in honor of Godess Durga and Amba Mataji. The event was held at Manav Seva Mandir located at 101 S. Church Road, Bensenville, IL. Attendance was houseful. Garba by: Orchestra SaReGaMa of Chicago Rita Patel & Atul Soni; Aanand Master on Keyboard; Kafi Khan on Octopad; Andy Patel – Percussion Backless Cholis, Embroidered Chania, Colorful Dhotis and Kurtas and a Kaleidoscope of Saris were all out as Gujaratis in particular and others in general danced to the tune of loud music in Somerset as Navratri began with the usual gusto throughout the United States. The Mahalaxmi hall of Manav Seva Mandir was transformed in to a huge dance floor to accommodate hundreds of bare feet moving in to thunderous drumbeats in swirling circles around deity Hindu Goddess “Durga and Amba Mata”. The most fascinating was the Dandiya Raas. Colorful Dandiyas, some of them specially ordered from India, had modern looks. While the traditional Dandiyas are made of wood, it is […]

Chicago IL: The newly appointed Consul General of India, arranged meet and Greet the Ethnic Media based in the Chicagoland area primarily to introduce himself, address the concerns, imbibe their ideas and convey brief details of the forthcoming events which the Consulate intending to organize. The event took place on Wednesday, September 25,2013 from 5-00 to 6-00 pm at the office of Consulate General of India, 455 N Cityfront Plaza Drive, NBC Tower Building,Suite No. 850,Chicago, IL 60611. Media Personnel present included Prashant Shah from India Tribune, Bhailalbhai from DesiTalk, Ramesh Sopariwala from India Post, Hemant Brahmbhatt from Hi India, Vandana Zigan from TV Asea, Tausif Malik from Desi Times, Dr. Chandrakant Modi,Jyotikumar Chokshi and Nagesh from Asian Media USA, Suresh Shah from Gujarat Samachar and few from others. Dr. Sayeed accompanied by his two Colleagues Consuls Gangte and Banerjee informed all that his purpose of keeping this meet is to appraise the media of working of Counsel, its volume of work, limitations and understand the difficulties and problems of public in general and try to find its amicable solution. There were many problems regarding awareness in public about working of CG office and subsequent need to have proper liaison […]

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 […]

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 […]