CHICAGO: The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Bartlett celebrated Diwali on October 23 and 24 with usual pomp and gaiety. Over 15000 devotees, invitees and guests attended the celebration.
The celebrations had in fact begun much earlier on Saturday October 11 as children learned about cultural traditions at the Kids Diwali. The program included skits and fun-filled games to engage a younger audience. Arts and crafts stations were set up to illustrate traditions and teachings of Diwali.
The Diwali celebration continued with grand fireworks show on October 18 with music, videos, and traditional dances. As fireworks lit up the night sky over the Mandir, young children danced and saw how the Festival of Lights is celebrated in India. Nemi Nabiraj from Elk Grove added, “We practice Jainism and celebrate for different reasons, but it’s important to come here and celebrate with other community members as well.”
Mike Herz, a resident of Des Plaines, attending for the first time said, “I’ve volunteered at a lot of events, and the spirit of service at this celebration that I witnessed was phenomenal. It’s so great to see the youth so involved and enthusiastic about celebrating their culture and giving back to their community-at-large.”
Kristen Ras, an educator from Wheaton, teaches religion at St. Francis High School, attends the Diwali festivities at BAPS every year. She stated, “I’m extremely impressed by the volunteer work by the youth and how they implement their values in their daily lives outside of Mandir and give back to their communities.”
The celebration continued the day after Diwali with the beginning of the Hindu New Year with a grand offering of the Annakut (‘a mountain of food’). Consisting of over a thousand different vegetarian food items, it is prepared by devotees, to thank God for His providence over the past year and to seek His blessings for the year ahead.
Each year, the BAPS Mandir in Bartlett also holds a themed exhibition to showcase important values and highlight how Indian-Americans can share their heritage with their larger community. This year’s exhibit encompassed environmental-friendly decorations with a historical perspective, as the Mandir recognized the 150th anniversary of the life of the founder of BAPS, Shastriji Maharaj. He championed maintaining peace and harmony within the family unit and in society, and encouraging community involvement. He inspired many to change their lives as much as with the start of the new Hindu year.
Dressed up in traditional, colorful clothes, families and friends wished each other sentiments of prosperity. Adults, community members, and young children eagerly visited the Mandir to view the colorful décor, various food dishes, creative fruit carvings, and imaginative artwork Community members prayed that the coming year will bring joy and peace to their family and pass along these cultural traditions and values to coming generations.
BAPS, a worldwide socio-spiritual organization, is dedicated to community service, peace and harmony. Motivated by Hindu principles, BAPS strives to care for the world by caring for societies, families and individuals.
Through social and spiritual activities, BAPS endeavors to produce better citizens of tomorrow who have a high esteem for their roots. Its 3,300 international centers support these character-building activities. Under the guidance and leadership of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, BAPS aspires to build a community that is morally, ethically and spiritually pure, and free of addictions.
Surendra Ullal & Anand Soni
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