Geetha Patil
CHICAGO: The eleventh anniversary of Hindu Mandir of Lake County, Grayslake, a Chicago suburb, was celebrated on 23 and 24 June with great enthusiasm and religious fervor.
The two-day celebration was attended by hundreds of devotees from greater Chicago land. Active participation of many families with children, all decked up in traditional colorful costumes, was a welcome sight.Volunteers helped the organizers with setting up all the Pooja arrangements, food preparation, serving, and helping visitors with parking and other things.
The first day in the morning the temple priests performed Poorvanga Ganapati Puja, Punyahavaachanam, Kalash & Navagraha Puja with all the Vedic rituals, Mantras, Veda Chanting and Sankalpam. Ashtothram, Abhishekam and Homam for all the deities was performed by Pt. Anil Joshi and Pt. Ganesh while Yogesh Pandey and Ramachari chanted Mantras. This was followed by Poornhuthi, Nivedhyam and Maha Mangalarati. All temple deities were decorated with new costumes and decorations. Temple priests distributed Theerth-Prasadam along with their Ashirvachanam.
Later, in the afternoon, the religious celebrations culminated with Shiva Parvathi Kalyanotsavam (divine cosmic wedding), which was a popular religious activity of the temple.
The second day, Sunday June 24 started with Puja and Abhishekam for all deities from 9 am to noon. In this ceremony, Vedic rituals and chanting of Mantras made the environment more pious in the shrine.Samohika Sundarkanda recitation was led by Shri Pandey along with other devotees. Temple Kitchen Committee lead by Smt Pramila Dutt served Prasadam to the devotees.
Pt. Joshi in his discourse explained the meaning and importance of the celebration of temple’s anniversary which luckily coincided with the Nirjala Ekadashi. He advised all the devotees to enjoy the temple deities’ birthday and obtain their blessings. He also highlighted the implementation of Sundarkanda messages for the betterment of our daily and spiritual life.
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