CHICAGO: The much awaited and much trumpeted entry and exit of Devon Ka Raja – Ganpati – began and ended after a ten-day festival on Devon Avenue Chicago with huge fanfare. Hundreds of devotees flocked to Regal Jewels to have Darshan and get blessing from the God whose big attribute is to remove evil and bring happiness in the lives of people.
It was a sight to watch the old and young coming to attend the Aarti in the morning and evening and it was a treat to attend the final immersion ceremony that signaled the exit of the Devon Ka Raja for one year. The shouts and chants of Ganpati Bapa Moriya filled the air of Devon Avenue practically the whole day on Sunday that had additional attraction of a good cultural program by local artists.
The idea of Devon Ka Raja was the brain child of Nirmal Shewakramani and his wife Gurbachanji. They had hefty backing of Ramesh Mehtani of Resham, Hemant Brahmbhat of Hi India and Mangesh Satam. This was the second year in succession that Devon Ka Raja came and conquered the Devon Avenue with flourish and the credit goes largely to the trio and the huge army of devotees and a good number of volunteers who gave their selfless service and got recognition from Nirmal Shewakramani at the end.
The Ganesh Visarjan ceremony was unique in that the huge crowd thronging Devon Avenue from 3 pm to 6 pm kept on chanting Ganeshji’s name. The devotees were highly emotional and yet highly disciplined and peaceful. The cultural program involved fascinating dances, songs and performances by children. The other highlights were Ganeshjis made out of fruits by Kaajal, Ganeshji made out of clay and eye catching art work with Daals (lentils).
Gurbachan Kaur adds
Palki of Ganeshji was carried by Nirmal Shewakramani of Regal Jewels, Hemant Brahmbhatt, Ramesh Mahtani of Reshams and devotee Mangesh Satam. Ramesh Huma and Resham Mahtani of Reshams took care of decoration and prasad. Anil, Rita, Neha and Rela Devi Dhalaria managed live TV lighting and Prasad. Sanjeev and Avinash Jain did the overall runaround, Mangesh Satam and Pratibha Mehta managed to the core every day prasad and Aarti singing and Nigam Patel lent his melodious and powerful voice to Aarti every night. Last but not least, the event couldn’t go smoothly and successfully without the hard work of Kaajal Shewakramani Gill and Rahul Gill. The cultural program on visarjan day was successfully organized by mother-daughter team of Trupti and Suhanee Patel.
Ramesh Soparawala
India Post News Service
