CHICAGO: Members of the Jain Community of Lake County celebrated Mahavir Jayanti (birthday) on Saturday, April 11 at Hindu Mandir of Lake County with great religious fervor.
Lord Mahavir was the 24th Tiranthankar from the line of Adinath in Jainism. Mahavir Mahila Mandal of Bartlett, IL led by Rashmi Shah and Sudha Shah started Mahavir Abhishekam with sponsor families at 1:30pm. Mahila Mandal ladies sang many devotional songs and danced with full devotion in front of Mahavir.
More than 150 devotees enjoyed Lord Mahavir Abhishekam and remembered Bhagwan Mahavir’s message of truth, non-violence and compassion that shows an enlightened path for happiness and progress of humanity.
Mangalarati of Lord Mahavir was followed by cultural programs organized by Vasu Choksi. Mouthwatering Prasadam, which was sponsored by Vidya and Sanjay Nahar, was served to all the devotees. Mandir’s dedicated volunteers and popular singer Mrs Vasu Choksi sang Stavans and anchored the whole celebration very well.
This event of Birth anniversary of Mahavir was organized by Umesh and Vasu Choksi and Nitish Shah. Mandir’s priests Pt. Ganesh Ji and Pt. Yogesh Pandya gave vote of thanks to all the Jain devotees for making this event a grand success. They said in their Ashirvachan that the life and teachings of Lord Mahavir inspire us to abjure violence in thoughts, words, and deeds and to always adhere to the path of ahimsa (non-violence).
Geetha Patil