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Chicago IL: The Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago popularly known as HTGC in Lemont IL hosted its semi annual fund raising event that included a captivating music concert and a banquet style dinner in the Rathi Auditorium of the temple on Saturday August 18, 2012. This year’s focus of the fund raiser was on two capital projects – kitchen upgrades and installation of an elevator in Ramalaya. The kitchen and the dining hall were last renovated in 2003 and as the number of meals served during weekends and festivals increased several fold, expansion of the kitchen became an absolute must. With increasing number of elderly devotees, the need for an elevator can not be overemphasized. Collecting funds for these projects estimated to be around $240,000 becomes a tall order and this was the theme of the speeches by the temple president Dr. Gopal Srinivasan and finance committee chair Dr. Rohini Udupa. Mr. Bhima Reddy and Mr. Satish Amruthur gave a slide presentation later, detailing the kitchen and the elevator plans. The event started with a social hour at 6:00 PM as the guests started coming in. Everybody enjoyed the tasty Hors d’oeuvres while relaxing, mixing with their friends. The main […]

Chicago IL: The spirit of patriotism was truly depicted at Federation of Indian Association’s 66th Independence Day celebration banquet on Saturday, August 18, 2012 and at the Grand Parade held on Sunday, August 19, 2012. The Banquet included a spectacular cultural program which took place at The Meadows Club, 2950 W. Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, IL. Both events were meticulously planned and coordinated by Founder President Sunil Shah, President Onkar Sangha and his team of FIA office bearers. Dignitaries included William Mcleod-Mayor, Village of Hoffman Estates, Ms. Mukta Tomar, Consul General of India in Chicago , Rodney Craig- Mayor of Hanover Park, Fred Crespo-State Representative, Carole Pankau-State Senator, John Lawson-Schaumburg Township Assessor, Prachi Desai- Bollywood Actress and Chief Guest and Congressman Joe Walsh. One of the main attraction was the presence of the young and vibrant Bollywood actress, Ms. Prachi Desai from Bombay, India. She was the Chief Guest at the banquet and the Grand Marshall at the FIA Parade. Prachi Desai is a well known Indian film and television actress. She has starred in movies such as “Rock On” and “Bol Bachchan” and many popular TV serials. Ms. Prachi Desai expressed her gratitude for bestowing upon her the honor […]

Chicago IL: The patriotic euphoria was domineering as the crowds waving tri-color flags accompanied with shouts of “Bharat Mata Ji Jai” permeated the Chicago’s India Independence Day parade hosted by the Federation of Indian Association-Chicago [FIA] on a crowd-jammed Mahatma Gandhi Marg. in the heart of the India Town in Chicago on Saturday, August 18, 2012. The uninhibited patriotic fervor was abundantly palpable as the parade snaked through a nearly 2-mile march led by a massive Indian flag carried by teenagers with the Scottish Band playing the marching beat interspersed with high-decibel sounds of drum-beats and pulsating music emanating from several floats. Parade Grand Marshal Aftab Shivdasani, the hottest Bollywood star led the extenteded parade with an enduring smile on his face as he waved and greeting crowds of people which was followed by a great convoy of decorated floats laden with colorfully dressed and spirited participants as it gently made its way through on Devon Avenue amidst the cheers and shouts from the crowds lined up on both sides of the street. Before the parade stepped out, the tri-color Indian flag was gently hoisted with saluting hands of the FIA executive board members, community and business leaders encircling the […]

Chicago IL: Federation of Indian Associations [FIA] Chicago held a Grand Gala Banquet in commemoration of India Independence Day on Friday, August 17, 2012 that attracted overflowing guest attendance filled to the capacity at the Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows, Illinois with showcased in great measure the spirit of festive celebrations and patriotic ardor. This evening gala of celebrations and awards presentations were hosted in conjunction with Drishti Arts. The banquet saw the convergence of community’s elite and the eminent at this sold-out evening gala celebrations heightened by music, dance, fine food and celebratory revelry. The banquet brought great musical ensemble with their extravaganza “Aye Mere Waton Ke Logo” a special live-audio/visual musical tribute to Mother India. The evening belted out some melodious patriotic theme musicals of yesteryears which was followed by ‘SAREGAMA’ youthful musical pop and fusion music and songs presented by the cream of young talent from India. Ajai Agnihotri, FIA President welcoming the guests said the evening’s gala provides an outstanding opportunity to showcase our ideals of patriotism and indianness while affording us a collective chance to celebrate India’s great milestone event. Ajai Agnihotri further said “I am honored to have been bestowed with the opportunity to […]

Skokie IL: On Sunday August 19, 2012 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. Women in vibrant colored dresses, men in ethic outfits and children, smiling and laughing, filled the parking lots and were pouring into the hotel lobby. 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 9,000 enthusiastic individuals in attendance. Despite the large masses, the […]

Chicago, IL: Kanan Cruises, Chicago’s newest and largest private Charter Vessel Boat was the venue for a very special program on August 12, 2012. Over 250 devotees boarded on Kanan Cruise at Navy Pier Lakefront to participate in Amrit Varsha a discourse by Shri Sudhanshuji Ji Maharaj. It was rarest of the rare opportunity to feel soothing effect in this course that was given on Sunday Aug.12, 2012 in sailing voyage in Lake Michigan. Amrit Varsha-a discourse by Shri Sudhanshu Ji, which was followed by Maha Prasad (Dinner). All devotees were inspired motivated and uplifted among the calm water & stunning Chicago Sky Scrapers. The festivity was eventful as boarding started at 5;00 p.m. at Navy Pier. All devotees boarded first & then his Holiness Sudhanshu Ji Maharaj entered the ship. The Program started at 6.15 p.m. by humble devotee MC Anju Lal. Her pious voice captured the devotees right away. The entire voyage discourse comprised of devotional Bhajans by renowned artists Narendra Vashishtha, Anju Lal, Neha Rathi, Mr. Kohli and Tarikhbhai Parikh Ji. It was accompanied by Puran Yyas JI on Tabla, Anilbhai on Manjira and Narendra Ji on Harmonium & Surinder Ji on dholak. Narendraji started the evening […]

Chicago IL: On Sunday, August 5, a lone gunman and home grown terrorist Wade Michael Page, 40 who was neo-Nazi allegedly shot six Worshiper at a Gurudwara in south of Milwaukee. Page’s downward spiral ended when he shot himself after a shoot-out with police. Dead were five men and one woman, Sita Singh, 41; Ranjit Singh, 49; Prakash Singh, 39; Paramjit Kaur, 41; Suveg Singh,84; and Satwant Singh Kaleka, 65, the temple’s president. This massacre happened just after about three weeks following killing of scores of victims by another lone gunman in a movie theater in Colorado. In this killing spree victim included a 6 yrs. old girl. Somber, tearful mourners, most wearing scarves on their heads in the Sikh tradition, greeted victims’ family members with tears and hugs at the Oak Creek High School gymnasium. Family members stood near the six wooden caskets that were each draped with a white cloth. The caskets were lined up under the gym’s basketball net, below a huge screen that flashed images of the victims whose stories were told in this interactive vedio Behind each casket was a large portrait of the victim adorned with flowers. About 5000 mourners attended the memorial service. […]

YAMUNOTRI CAMP – June 18-24, 2012 Theme: Mahabharata stories, Values from Srimad Bhagavad Geeta and Gratitude is the Attitude BADRI CAMP- July 16-22, 2012 Theme: Mahabharata stories, Values from Srimad Bhagavad Geeta and “Serve, Love, Know” For the past 30 years, Chinmaya Mission Chicago has been conducting Vedic Heritage Youth camps for the benefit of children in grade KG through High School. Each weeklong camp focuses on Value-based learning while having age appropriate fun throughout the day. This year, the camps were held from June 18-24 at Yamunotri center in Grayslake, IL and from July 16-22 at Badri center in Willow brook, IL. Both camps concluded with everyone feeling inspired to live a noble value-based life with a higher purpose. During a typical day, children learnt values through stories, games and interactive classes in the morning, participated in sports and games, made theme related crafts and learnt bhajans and stotrams in the afternoon. The vegetarian snacks/juice and meals were lovingly made and served by volunteers throughout the day. Under the guidance of Swami Sharananada, acharyas (teachers) from local centers and other Mission centers in the US came for the week specially to teach the camp material. This year’s theme was […]

Chicago IL: Members of Indian Seniors of Chicago met at Manav Seva Mandir on Saturday 11th August, 2012 at 11.30am for the celebration of Independence Day, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami and Birthday of seniors. Around 135 members attended the program. Mrs Hema Shastri, executive Committee member, Mrs Mayura Desai and Shri Bipin Shah opened the commencing of gathering by prayer and Hanuman Chalisa and all the members cooperated to sing with them. Then Hema Shastri, Mrs Bhadra Shah and some of the female members chanted Bhajans appropriate to the celebration of Janmashtami. Shri CV Desai presented the detailed accounts which included 2 days tour to Maharishi Vedic City, Fairfield, Iowa and July 14th picnic. He also congratulated some hard working members who helped during the tour. Tour and Picnic were successfully conducted with the help of various member volunteers. Shri Hirabhai Patel gave highlights recent 9 days member bus tour to include Las Vegas, Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon and Hoover dam. He also thanked certain members for cash contribution given to Indian Seniors of Chicago. Shri Narsinhbhai Patel gave the sponserars’ names and the amount and materials they have contributed for picnic and Chimanbhai Patel gave congratulation to those who […]