SURESH BODIWALA
CHICAGO: Devon Ka Raja Lord Ganesh bade adieu to hundreds of devotees and fans after being at Shree Ganesh Temple on Devon for 10 days this month.
Regal Foundation hosted its sixth annual 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi celebration concluding September 12 in Chicago. Hundreds of devotees flocked the Shree Ganesh Temple to have a view and get a blessing from the god worshipped to remove evil and bring happiness in the lives of people.
The idea of Devon Ka Raja was the brainchild of Nirmal Shewakramani and his wife Gurbachan Kaur Shewakramani. Inspired by the famous “Lal Bagh Ka Raja” event in Mumbai, India, Regal Foundation started this community event as Devon Ka Raja (“King of Devon”) in response to pitching from Indians across Chicagoland to have similar celebrations here and also for a house of worship right on Devon Avenue area often described as mini India town.
The entire 10 days of pooja was performed by Balaji Temple priest Sri Begur Nagendra Rao.
Community activists led by the president of Hindi Lovers Club Gurbachan Kaur and backed by many Devon area businessmen took care of the 10 days of celebrations
They transported a huge life size idol of Lord Ganapati, crowned it as Devon Ka Raja, and placed it in Shree Ganesh Temple of Chicago for the occasion.
There were prayers in the mornings and evenings with bhajans, garbas, and special discourses. The last day saw a special immersion procession.
Hundreds of devotees and visitors joined the grand procession on the final day befitting the Devon Ka Raja, with a live band and chanting “Ganapati Bapa Moriya”.
The devotees and the festival sponsors hoisted Lord Ganesh in decorated a ‘Palakhi’ on a special open truck. Four blocks of Devon street were closed for the procession to go to the immersion area.
After the overwhelming success and positive community response, Regal Foundation vowed to celebrate this event every year. In addition to hosting the annual Ganesh Chaturthi, Regal Foundation has plans of establishing a permanent Ganesh Temple on Devon Avenue.
The next event, Navratri, will be held from September 29 to October 7.
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