CHICAGO: Lake County Hindu Mandir celebrated Ganesh Utsava with fervor and lot of devotional enthusiasm. This was the 7th year of grand celebrations and it had a cultural extravaganza of all Maharashtrian varieties.
Ganesh Utsava started from Friday August 29 with Lord Ganesh sthapan and Abhishekam by Pt Ganesh and Pt Anil Joshi. The Maharashtrian devotees came in wearing stunning traditional dresses and gave a rare opportunity for all other devotees to relish flavor of Marathi Bhajans and Aarti songs as well.
For ten days, every evening, Lord Ganesh pujan was performed with all spiritual spirits by both temple priests. Archana and Aarti along with a ‘Bhajan Sandhya’ program was performed by teen talents and women from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. This displayed their hidden talent for singing and playing instruments.
On Saturday, September 6 morning, more than 70 children from Lake County Balgokulam performed Ganesh Pujan and Aarti under instructions of Mrs Yashasvini Desai. Next day on Sunday, a very elaborate Abhishekam of Lord Ganesh was performed by Pt Ganesh and Pt. Anil Joshi with all the Vaidic rituals and religious zeal. Many holy devotional songs sung by a group of Maharashtrian devotees filled the shrine with spiritual vibrations and pulsations.
Renowned local singer Mrs Vasu Choksi conducted this Bhajans program in an encouraging and admirable fashion. More than 400 devotees with their beautifully dressed children and visiting parents attended this event with sacred mood to have the blessings of Lord Ganesh.
Favorite ‘Modak’ was distributed to every devotee as little Prasadam before having a sumptuous mouth-watering Maharashtrian Purana Poli with ghee as a special dish. Mrs Nandini Vishwasrao and her team made every devotee to go home with excellent Maharashtrian aroma in their mouth.
In the evening, Lord Ganesh Visarjan procession started at 4:30pm from the shrine to the parking lot water tank accompanied with groups of bands, drums and famous Maharashtrian Lejim dances by young men and women throughout the procession. Enthusiastic devotees danced to the tunes of dhol and created a real festive environment for everyone.
About 50 families brought their Ganesh Murtis and joined the procession. Lord Ganesh Visarjan Pujan was performed by Pandit Joshi and Pt Ganesh. The two priests immersed Murtis one by one in the Chandan powder mixed water by following all the religious observances. Everyone chanted ‘Ganapati Bappa Moraya Pudche Varshi Loukar Yaa!’ slogan with full energy and zeal.
Pt Joshi offered ‘Gulal’ to all devotees along with his Ashirvachan for their happy and prosperous life. He honored and thanked Raj Potdar, Manoj and Anupam Bhat, Subhas and Rekha Deodhar for their valuable time in organizing and making this event beautiful with all the decorations. He also thanked on behalf of President Harsh Kumar each and every devotee and volunteer for his/her time, support and participation in the program, as well as being a great audience.
Geetha Patil
