Category: Newspaper Links

Bartlett IL: The Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago (JSMC) organized Mela 2011 on September 17th, 2011. There were about 10 unique events running in parallel throughout the day! It reminded of a true traditional Indian style Mela. The event was fully sold out with overwhelming response from JSMC families and nearby community members. Over 1,700 people attended this event and made it a remarkable and memorable festival. Over 19,000 Mela tickets were sold for Food Fest and Carnival Games. Everyone enjoyed over 35 unique Indian, Non-Indian, Jain delicious verity food items prepared and served by various JSMC community groups of volunteers. Mother Nature blessed the outdoor fun fair with beautiful sunshine and a cool breeze throughout the day. Outdoor games and carnival games kept kids and young adults entertained throughout the day. For the first time, JSMC organized JSMC Got Talent competition as part of the Mela. Out of 30 performances between two age groups, five from each age group were selected by the panel of Judges. In the final Finale of the talent competition, top three winners were selected in each group. The vendor fair was a major attraction of the Mela. 35 vendors from the Chicagoland area ranging […]

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Bensenville, IL: On Friday, September 17, 2011 the Gujrati Samaj Chicago (GSC) Board of Trustees, members of executive committee and volunteers hosted colorful Raas Garba festivity on the occasion of Navratri. This annual sacred event is celebrated in honor of Godess Durga Mataji. The event was held at Manav Seva Mandir located at 101 S. Church Road, Bensenville , IL from 7 PM till about 1 AM and attended by over 300 individuals. 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”. The musical group of Bharati Desai provided music. Band Information: Band Name: Swar Bharti Group Singer: Bharti Desai Band Manager / Organizer: Amit Desai Key Board player: Vedant Patel Dhol player: Ishwaer Patel and Shree Mahavrat Mangira player: Amit Desai Timbani player: Himansu Brahmbhatt Sound system: Arun Modi The beautiful music is one of the most foremost pillars of the Navratri Garba celebration. The drums, dholak and all sort of instruments coming together with melodious voice by group leader and singer Bharati Desai & Group. Music for Navratri festival has to keep balance […]

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Chicago IL: The 29th Health Fair was successfully completed at Midwest Swaminarayan Temple in Itasca Illinois. The goal was to provide medical check up to all those who may not be able to afford medical services due to insurance and medical coverage problems. The widely publicized Health Fair provided medical check up to more than 405 participants. The event took place on Sunday, on September 11, 2011 in the main hall of the temple, and was sponsored by the temple, Lohana Association of Greater Chicago, Gujarati Samaj and Kadva Patidar Samaj. Long lines of participants early in the morning show the success of this activity for the last several years. As per Jayantibhai Thakkar, this was the 29th Health Fair coordinated by him. The first one was started at Manav Seva Mandir back in 1989 and he continued this service also in other temples. It is important to recognize his selfless and dedicated work on people’s health check up, by which more than 8,500 patients have benefited so far. More than 25 doctors and 100 health professionals provided their volunteer services on this day. Registration and front desk services were provided by Manubhai Shah, Naliniben Shah, Bhupendra Thakkar, Nareshbhai Dekhtawala, […]

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Chicago IL: Geetha Mandalam celebrated its 34th Annual Onam Celebrations on Saturday, September 10th at Apollo Elementary School, 10100 Dee Rd., Des Plaines, IL. On this occasion, More than 500 people attended this festival of flowers, feast and frolic show. Geetha Mandalam is a Hindu Religious organization established in 1978 by a group of Malayalee Hindus here in Chicago. Geetha Mandalam meet and conduct group prayers every last Saturday of the month, they also conduct various other activities and celebrating Onam, is one of their main function Significance of Onam Onam is an ancient festival which still survives in modern times. Kerala’s rice harvest festival and the festival of rain flowers, which fell on the Malayalam month of Chingam, celebrated the Demon King Mahabali’s annual visit from Patala (the underworld). Onam is unique since Mahabali has been revered by the people of Kerala since prehistory. According to the legend, Kerala witnessed its golden era during the reign of King Mahabali. Everybody in the state was happy and prosperous and the king was highly regarded by his subjects, so much so that even the gods under Indra became jealous of Mahabali, and they approached Mahavishnu claiming that Mahabali is now equivalent […]

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Chicago IL: The first-annual Shekhar Aravind Unity Cup was held over Labor Day weekend, featuring some of the best and most exciting cricket ever seen in the Chicagoland area. Shekhar “Sheks” Aravind was the young and dynamic President of the Midwest Cricket Conference, whose life was cruelly cut short on August 2nd, 2011 in a tragic boating accident on Lake Michigan. Shekhar’s cricketingfamily decided to honor his memory by making his vision of the Unity Cup a reality – and with only 3 weeks to prepare and organize, led by the tireless and energetic Atif Shaikh and his band of merry voluteers, put on a 12- team cricketing-tournament that was by consensus the best-ever seen in the midwestern states. Invitations were sent out to all the cricket-leagues in the Central-East region to participate. Representative teams from Michigan Cricket Association, Minnesota Cricket Association, American Cricket Conference (Chicago) and Bolingbrook Premier League (BPL) participated – as did MWCC teams from Wisconsin (the Milwaukee Bucks), and downstate (dubbed the StLouis Rams, featuring players from StLouis, Peoria and Moline). In addition, there was a Under-24 team (the Chicago Cubs), and 4 Chicagoland teams drafted NFLstyle by their captains (the Bulls, Bears, WhiteSox and Fire). […]

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Skokie IL: On Wednesday August 31,2011, Muslims from all over the metropolitan area joyfully bustled into the Holiday Inn, 5300 Touhy Ave, Skokie, IL to join in on the global celebrations of Eid Ul-Fitr. While there were various venues that held Eid prayers throughout the region, one of the largest turnouts was at the Holiday Inn. The block was quite a sight to passersby. Groups of individuals in vibrant Indian-Pakistani clothing flooded the parking lots as they made their way to the exquisite banquet hall to commemorate the glorious day. As individuals worked through the crowded doorways, volunteers from Eid committee gathered funds to recover event expenses. Demonstrating true Islamic generosity, many emptied their pockets and purses into the collecting bins before taking their shoes off and heading into the prayer halls. Men and women continuously and open-heartedly made space for incoming members so everyone would be able to partake in the namaz. Namaz was recited throughout the morning and afternoon to accommodate the 8,000 enthusiastic individuals in attendance. Despite the large masses, the Skokie Police, Holiday Inn Staff, and numerous volunteers were able to direct the crowds effortlessly and efficiently. After the namaz, Hussain Kamani gave the khutbah (preaching […]

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