CHICAGO: Under the auspices of Religious Committee of Hindu Mandir of Lake County, a grand celebration of Saamoohik Satyanarayan Katha was held on Sunday September 1 for the first time.
Over 30 families sponsored the event and more than 150 devotees of all age groups participated in the pooja and listened to the Satyanarayana Katha narrated by Pandit Anil Joshi. The significance of Samoohik Satyanarayana Katha was to bring all Indian communities on one platform. This sort of event results in respecting the different cultural values, traditions, customs, outlook, uniformity and differences as well. The Temple committee organized the Pooja Samagri and Maha Prasadam for all devotes. Delicious Mahaprasad was prepared by the Neelkantha Anand, Kamal Gupta and the kitchen team.
Pandit Joshi told about the true meaning of Satyanarayana Katha in Kaliyug. He said that this Katha reflects the thinking, mental states, and behavior of human beings in all the four varnas – Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. He said we should always be thankful to God for what he has blessed us with in this beautiful world.
Pandit Joshi expressed that this Katha is a mirror of good and bad things people do in their lives and reflects the mentality of human beings.
He communicated to devotees that due to weaknesses within us we are not developing in a real spiritual sense even though we are making massive materialistic development. We spend time in fighting and letting other people down and end up being in the re-birth cycle. He added that to attain moksha we should love each other and maintain peace in the world. “Sarve Bhavantu sukinah” slogan needs to be followed by everyone in this world more than ever before.
Rita Patel and Kamlesh Desai sang bhajans and made the event very melodic and devotional. Archana and Maha Mangala Aarti were performed by all devotees with utmost dedication. Home-made Bhoga was offered to God and distributed to everyone along with Mahaprasadam.
Geetha Patil
