Hindu Heritage Day is celebrated by VHPA

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL – VHPA celebrated the Hindu Heritage Day on June 5 with some 2,000 people participating in the program at Busse Wood Park in Elk Grove Village, IL.

The program began with the lighting of the traditional lamp by chief guest PP Swami Sri Pavitranandaji of Shree Gangnath Mahadev Ashram Chandod, India.

Joining him in deep pragatya were Vipul Shah (president of JSMA–Jain society of Metropolitan of Chicago) and Pragnesh Shah (secretary of JSMC), Sri Guru Swami (Balaji Temple), Shamkant Sheth (president of VHPA), Shailesh Rajput (secretary of VHPA) with Rohit Joshi chanting hymns.

Jigna Patel was the MC at the celebrations which included yoga & meditation, spiritual healing, mehndi, face paintings, Ohm and deep drawing competitions for the kids which were sponsored by Nitin Surti.

Other activities included essays, kite-flying, cricket, etc. with Chicagoland and temple officials taking an active part.

Local singers Raju Bankpura, Pratibha Jairath, Sweta Kothari and others sang songs of 1960s and 1970s as well as new Bollywood numbers. Dhol was played by Mehul Adhikari.

Chicago area’s dance school and academy performed Bhangra, dances and Gujarati Garba

PP Swami Sri Pavitranandaji described how Hindu religion was kept alive all around the world.

Nitri Surti and Sailesh Rajput announced names of winners of the drawing contest–1st winner was Megna Sharma ($50) and 2nd winner was Diya Patel ($25).

The president of VHPA thanked all participants for their support.