CHICAGO: Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner proclaimed July 9 as Jalaram Day in Illinois commemorating the three-day Pran Pratish at Mahotsav organized by the Jalaram Mandir at Hoffman Estate beginning July 6.
The Proclamation was formally handed over to the Mandir team – Chiyay Parkih and Bakulbhai Thakkar – by Nimesh Jani, Schaumburg village Trustee.
With over 2500 devotees and guests the event was also attended by Hoffman Estates Mayor William D. McLeod, Trustee Anna Newell, Trustee Michael Gaeta, Schaumburg Trustee Diane Dunham, Trustee Nimesh Jani, Supervisor Mary Wroblewski and State representative Michelle Mussman.
Shree Jalaram Mandir management planned a grand celebration of Murti Pran Pratishtha after busying itself with a hefty renovation, remodeling and expansion of the temple for the past eight years. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this three-day event attended by hundreds of devotees from far and wide places even beyond Chicagoland, met with a huge success.
The three-day Mahotsav beginning July 6 had commenced earlier with 108 Kundi Shubh Sankalp Yagna followed by Deh Shuddhi Karna Vidhi (day 1), Panchang Karmaand Shobha Yatra (day 2), Vastu Pujan, Snnapam Vidhiand Abhishek (day 3) and finally Murti Pran Pratishtha on Saturday, July 9.
Chanting Mantras, Shlokas, conducting floats dancing, singing, and cultural performances on last day by kids were the highlights of the festivities. Mahaprasad was served every day after the Puja Vidhi.
The entire event was broadcast live on Airwave and YouTube. This sacrament was performed by total of 11 high ranking Acharyas who had travelled from different parts of US. The ceremony marked the high point of the Pooja and invocation ritual. After this, the deity statues were henceforth considered as consecrated.
The event included grand re-opening ceremony for major structural upgrades of the temple and installation of nine deities carved from precious ‘Makrana’ marble stones, along with installation of statue of Shree Jalaram Bapa. Major expansion project costing upwards of $3.2 million was started few years after foundation of Mandir.
The facility had outgrown to accommodate ever increasing number of devotees and visitors, and Trustees had to go back to drawing board for major expansion soon after the opening of the doors of the temple.
The priests coming from all over the country were Anantbhai Dixit (Main Acharya) from Toledo OH, Jayeshbhai Pandya from Philadelphia, Manishbhai Trivedi from Cleveland OH, Janakbhai Joshi from Birmingham, AL, Yogesh Kumar Joshi from Chicago, Mayurbhai Shastriji from Merryville IN, Kaushikbhai Joshi from Detroit MI, Rohitbhai Joshi from Chicago, Satishbhai Joshi from Chicago and Shree Jalaram Mandir Pujari Keyurbhai Sevak and Dharmendrabhai Pandya. In addition, the event was performed under spiritual guidance of Shri Adhyatmanand Swamiji of Shivanand Ashram from Ahmedabad and Rajendra Prasad Shastri from Bhavnagar, India.
Murti Pratistha Yajmans, sponsors and devotees opened up their heart and soul and donated generously. There were 16 Main Yajmans for Murti Pran Pratishtha,including: Jigar & Bhumika Thakkar, Ketu Amin & Komal Patel, Dr. Kamal, Dr. Charu, Neil & Bindi Vibhakar , Dr. Bharat & Dr. Panna Barai, Manish & Asmita Patel, Jitendra & Rashmi Patel, Rohit, Jyotsna, Chirag & Samir Patel, Ghanshyam & Trusha Patel, Rajesh & Arti Thakkar, Kalpesh & Deepa Modi, Madhusudan & Nirmala Thakker, Sudhir, Raksha & Sameer Manek, Hiren & Chandani Thakkar, Vitthal & Jaya Patel, Sanjay & Ila Patel, Piyush, Geeta & Soni Chaudhari.
The sponsors for groceries were Jalaram Produce, Deep Foods, Primer Foods, Nirav Foods, Rajshree Groceries, and Tulsi Grocers. Also, many other sponsors donated generously for Mahaprasad including sweets.
Behind this success, there are many people who put in a lot of effort ranging from those who voluntarily jumped in to seven days festivity and worked round the clock in order to make this event a historical one.
Yogesh Thakkar
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