CHICAGO: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam meaning the whole world is my family is basic to Indian philosophy and thinking for millenniums. Picking up a thread from this really secular thought, over a dozen Indian organizations decided to pull their talents and resources together to celebrate the 150th birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on a grand scale next month with the central theme of World Without Borders 2013.
This universally appealing theme has induced the Council for Parliament of World Religions not only to lend its full support but also act as a co-host with other social, religious and service organizations overseeing the celebrations. It is learnt that the Council with other member organizations of the Celebration committee will work with the Art Institute of Chicago to have the lamp lighting ceremony held at the Institute building in Chicago Downtown on Saturday September 28.
It was hundred years ago that Swami Vivekanand, a relatively little known monk from India, had come to Chicago to attend the Parliament of World Religions held at the Institute. He won the heart and minds of American people with his straight from the heart talk and simplicity of approach. He commenced his address with an unusual salutation -“My Brothers and Sisters of America” and the 7,000 people in the audience, immediately feeling the depth of his sincerity, rose to their feet “went into inexplicable rapture with standing ovation and clapping that lasted for more than three minutes.”
The two days of celebrations beginning Friday September 27and running thru Saturday September 28 at two different centers – Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows on Friday and Jain Temple in Bartlett on Saturday – are but a part of the year long program that is going on across the country participated by hundreds of young and adult Indian Americans.
The Friday banquet in the evening will have noted Guest speakers – Bhaiyyuji Maharaj of Shri Sadguru Datta Dharmik Evam Paramarthik Trust Indore, Stephen Knapp, a Vedic scholar and a prolific writer, and Jeffery Armstrong, a Western Master of Eastern Wisdom – addressing the gathering besides a cultural program.
The Saturday program will start with the lamp lighting ceremony at the Chicago Art Institute in the morning and attendance is by invitation only. The day long program at Jain Temple in Bartlett will commence at 11a.m. and will last till 5 p.m. Shamkant Sheth, a spokesman of the Celebration Committee, informed the ethnic Indian media at a press meet here that Baba Ramdev, a master in Yoga Ayurved with huge following across the world, will specially fly from India to attend the meet.
There will be Cultural Expo showcasing rich spiritual and cultural heritage of India, a specially designed Souvenir Book that will detail Swami Vivekananda’s historic visit to this country, his speech at the Parliament of the Word Religions, reactions and reports in the American newspapers, and activities of Vedanta Society that seeks to promote universality of Sanatan Dharma. Culminating the day long program will be cultural performances and Prasadam, Shamkant said.
Besides, Shamkant some of the members of the Celebration Committee are Harendra Mangrola, Jitendra Digvenkar, Neerav Patel and Vandana Jhingan. They were present and briefed the media representatives. They informed that the two-day celebration in September was part of an year long program that will held at many cities across the USA. It was made clear that the celebration has no religious connotations as Swami Vivekananda represented Indian culture and thought that has no borders.
Some of the members of the Host Committee overseeing the celebrations besides Vishwa Hindu Parishad are Parliament of World Religions, Kaivlya Gyan Mandir, Vivekanand Vedant Society Manav Seva Mandir,Gayatri Gyan Mandir, Ekal Vidyalaya, SEWA, National Federation of Indian Associations, Jalaram Mandir, Hindu Mandir of Greyslake, Hari Om Mandir, Friends of India Society International , Swaminarayan Mandir, Art of Living and HSS.
Jitendra Digvenkar said that more and more organizations are showing interest in co-hosting the event.
Ramesh Soparawala
India Post News Service
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