CHICAGO: A grand Diwali celebration was held on November 9 at Shivalya Hindu Cultural Center located on Grand Ave in Chicago Downtown.
The Diwali celebration ceremony was a huge success with hundreds of people attending. The day started with a grand aarti conducted by Chief Pandit Shanti P Shastriji that kicked off the celebration on an auspicious note. Tribute was paid to the veterans who are fighting for the country.
For the kids, the start was diya lighting in which the kids lit up diyas that they had painted the week before. This was followed by a wonderful Bharatnatyam dance performance by Ms. Sai, who conducts Bharatnatyam classes. Next was a classical music session by a renowned musician in the Chicago area.
In addition, there was a face painting session when children (and adults alike) could get their face painted by a face painting professional. Raffle tickets were distributed and prizes announced with some lucky families winning a wider variety of prizes sponsored by Shivalya.
Lastly, there was a wonderful buffet dinner provided by Bombay Spice. Diwali sweets including jalebis, different kinds of barfis and other assortments were given out to all those who attended. It was a great sight to see the Hindu community come together in this fashion with outpourings of devotion and Shradhha clearly visible amongst the attendees.
Shivalya was recently founded to serve the Hindu community in the Chicagoland area. The Center is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization. Its goal is to provide a place of worship and learning for the community as also to provide the current generation and next generation with the tools to strengthen their ties and roots and establish a strong identity for the Hindu population in the city of Chicago.
P Aditi
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