CHICAGO: Shivalaya Hindu Cultural Center held an impressive three days Pran Pratishta Mahotsav beginning September 27 through 29 at the Center facility in Chicago Downtown, 318 West Grand Avenue, Suite 201 in Chicago.
The Pran Pratishta and Murti Sthapana ceremony were a huge success with hundreds of people attending during the three days of the ceremony. On all three days, the pooja and ceremony were led with great festivity by Chief Pandit Shri Shanti P Shastriji. Lunch was graciously donated on all three days by Taste India Chinese Restaurant in Downers Grove.
On all three days, people flocked to the Cultural Center to participate in the Pooja and prayers that were taking place. Even though the Pratishta ceremony ended at 2 pm, people kept coming until late in the evening to pray and glimpse the deities that were finally unveiled after a month’s wait.
It was a great sight to see the Hindu community come together in this fashion with outpourings of devotion and Shradhha (deep faith) clearly visible amongst the attendees. One of the attendees said, “It is great to finally have a place of worship in the City of Chicago and a place where my kids can learn Hindi without having to go to the suburbs”.
As the mahotsav came to a close on Saturday evening, pleased devotees were eagerly looking forward to the Navratri and Diwali celebrations that would now take place so close to their home.
Shivalya was recently founded to serve the Hindu Community in the Chicagoland area. Its goal is to provide a place of worship and learning for the community. There are going to be several classes for kids and adults alike, ranging from Bhagwad Gita to Bharat Natyam and Hindi learning. The goal of the center is to provide the current generation and next generation with tools to strengthen their ties and roots and establish a strong identity for the Hindu population in the City of Chicago.
The Center is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit company established and run based on donations.
– Nand Kapur
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