CHICAGO: The fundraising event hosted by Hoffman-based Jalaram Mandir last week with a group of Swarkinnari artists from India at Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows turned out to be a huge success as the Mandir Management raised over $70,000 in donations and pledges for Mandir expansion and progress.
The temple expansion plans, said Yogesh Thakkar, a spokesman, would add 6400 to 14000 square feet of area and help installing divine image (murti pratishthan) in the course of next year and half by 2013-14. The temple Jalaram Bapa, one of most revered saints of India, was formally launched here in March 2008 but has following across USA with burgeoning membership now at 4200. It was less than 500 to begin with.
The kick off the near four hours program was with the ceremonial lamp lighting by invited guests and Temple officials after a small welcome address by emcee Vipul Thakkar and co-emcee Ravi Thakkar. Temple priest Katenbhai Jani recited auspicious Vedic verses and the guests – State Senator Dan Kotowskey, Mayor of Hoffman Estates William McLeod, and State Reps Fred Crespo and Michelle Mussman, and Village Trustee Gary Pilafis – were individually honored with bouquets.
A front ranking community activist and founder president of recently formed FIA, Sunil Shah, introduced each of the dignitaries individually, starting with Keynote speaker Kotowskey, who in his speech praised various philanthropic activities of the Mandir, specifically recounting an anecdote of feeding three hungry Muslims. “We should follow the life and message of Bapa,” he declared amidst applause
McLeod stated that “Hoffman Estates is proud and privileged to host the temple and benefit from its public services. Religious institutions must complement the work of government.” He effusively praised contributions of Indians and of India to the wider American community.
Kamal Vibhaker, a temple benefactor, talked about the temple history mentioning that the Mandir took out a mortgage loan of $1,018,000 in 2008 but has paid off $328,000 in a short period of five years. Several projects have been completed, including the parking lot, elevator, kitchen remodeling, bathroom renovation and water sprinkler system for the landscaping, all per city rules.
The eight-member Swarkinnari musical group from Mumbai led by Bhanu Vora and Tripti Chhaya commenced their “Dairo” program that is typically Gujarati folk songs, lores interspersed with jokes and other light entertainment. They were accompanied by singers Dharmendra Gohil and Priyanka Marolia, Bhavesh Dave on keyboard, tabla player Prakash Parmar, Bindesh Pande on Side-Rhythm, Pramod More on dholak (drum).
Together they kept the audience spellbound with many seen swaying and even dancing on their seats to the lively rhythms and sentiments. At one point after the dinner, a group of men & women were so charged that they came near the dais and performed Gujarati Gaarba to the delight of all.
Bhanubhai Vora, who began at the age of nine, has been singing devotional and folk songs in India and before the Indian Diaspora across the world for the past 44 years. He has recorded more than 40 CD albums representing a wide variety of song genres and humor. Trupti Chhaya, who has done Masters in Psychology, is likewise a versatile singer who can sing both light classical, popular, and folk songs with equal ease.
The entire Jalaram Temple team, including Chairman of the Temple’s Board of Trustees Hasmukh Thakkar and Temple President Bhupendra Thakkar, Committee members, pujari (priest), and volunteers did an excellent job of making this fundraising event a success.
Ramesh Soparawala & Asian Media USA
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