Umiya Mataji temple celebrates Holi

CHICAGO, IL — Umiya Mataji Sanstha Chicago Midwest (UMSCM) on March 3 celebrated the colorful legendary Festival of Holi, symbolizing victory of Good over Evil, by sprinkling colors, dancing and chanting.

Despite an inclement weather, the celebrations were held outdoors at Umiya Mataji Temple Chicago, 1800 Joliet Street, West Chicago, IL 60185. Besides the 500-odd community members, others present were prominent community leaders, sponsors, committee members, volunteers, friends, and well-wishers.

Children had a good time in the woods playing with colors with their friends and family as well as participating in the community enrichment activities of Holi.

Shree Umiya Mataji is a Kuldevi of all Kadva Patidars Samaj. The religious ceremonies included aarti and bhajans with all devotees praying at Mataji in temple with gusto by dancing and singing devotional songs as the audience repeatedly chanted ‘Shree Umiya Mata Ki Jai!!’

UMSCM, which plans to build a Umiya Mataji Mandir, is a not-for-profit established in 2016 with an objective to build a first-ever Temple of Mataji along with a grand community center. The main purpose of the association is to provide a platform for cultural, educational, social, religious and spiritual needs of Kadva Patidar Samaj.

UMSCM executive board: Jayanti Patel (chairman), Shailesh Patel (vice chairman), Lal Patel (president), Dipal Patel (vice president), Devandra Patel (secretary), Jignesh Patel (jt. secretary), Saurabh Patel (jt. secretary), Piyush Patel (treasurer) and Hasmukh Patel (jt. treasurer).

UMSCM working team: Ashok Patel, Ashvin Patel, Vishnu Patel, Dashu Patel, Girish Patel, Jagdish Patel, Jayesh Patel, Jitendra Patel, Mahendra Patel, Navnit Patel, Pulkit Patel, Rajendra Patel, Sanjay Patel, Bharat Patel, Kanti (KS) Patel, Kishan Patel, Jitu Patel and Rasik Patel.