Ramesh Soparawala
India Post News Service
CHICAGO: The much trumpeted celebration of Yoga Day at Millennium Park in Chicago Downtown turned out to be a historical event although a moderate attendance and a much smaller participation by vendors in a way made a somewhat damp affair. In fact, the last year Yoga celebrations in Naperville were decidedly a better event with bigger attendance from public and vendors alike.
It was a sunny day and the Yoga in open was a huge blessing with cool breeze from Lake Michigan making it a pleasant affair. To her full credit, Indian Consul General Ms Neeta Bhushan left no stone unturned to make the event a gala success but it was up to members of Indian community to rise to the occasion and sadly they did not.
It was to the fullest credit of CG Ms Bhushan and her Consulate team that they got it done at the Millennium Park in Chicago Downtown using the good office of Chicago Mayor Rham Emanuel. Ms Smitha Shah of Chicago-Delhi Sister City office was a big help in getting the celebrations done in Chicago Downtown.
It was a really good choice in that it attracted a relatively good number of non Indian Americans – Whites and non White – participation. The Yoga though of Indian origin, has huge following in this country and an estimate put it at 37 million practitioners in 2017.
The celebration on June 16 started at 10.45 hrs. with the demonstration of breathing techniques by Sister Tina from Brahma Kumaris of Chicago and a dance item by the students of Soorya Dance School. After this, the event shifted to its main official opening ceremony with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp and singing of the National Anthems of Republic of India and United States of America, demonstration of Common Yoga Protocol and demonstrations of 24 Aasan poses in 12 minutes by Dr Kusum Patel. It concluded with the recitation of Shanti Mantras.
The purpose of the event was to create a broad-based awareness about the benefits of yoga for all sections of society, irrespective of their age group, and also to introduce the ancient mind-body practice to a generation of technology-loving kids and to reintroduce it to an older generation of high-strung adults.
It was one of the mega events in Chicago in which about 100 community organizations and hundreds of Indian Americans and people belonging to other nationalities participated, along with their family and friends.
Ms. Neeta Bhushan, Consul General of India in Chicago, extended warm welcome and greetings to everyone present on the occasion. She said that yoga was a great way to connect to oneself and achieve a healthy balance between the mind and body. She also mentioned that Yoga helps people in maintaining balance among their thoughts, emotions, and feelings, and thereby improving their effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity.
The Consul General expressed her gratitude to the office of the Mayor of Chicago for partnership with the Consulate and for allocating Millennium Park for the event.
The eminent persons who participated in the event included Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi; President & CEO, World Business Chicago Ms. Andrea Zopp; Chair, Delhi Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International Ms. Smitha Shah; Mayor of Burr Ridge, Mickey Straub; Former Chief Information officer in the office of Governor of Illinois Hardik Bhatt; Alderman Joe Moore and Democratic nominee for State Senate Ram Villivalam.
D.B. Bhati, Consul & Head of Chancery anchored the event and proposed a vote of thanks.
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