HIMANI SANAGARAM
CHICAGO: Bollywood Dandiya Night, organized by Hema Shastri in the memory or her father-in-law on September 28 at Monty’s Elegant Banquets Hall in Bensenville was a grand success.
Over 1,200 people attended. New York Life agent Sunil Shah, who is running for Schaumburg mayor, was the chief guest. Chicagoland’s four seniors group presidents also attended. The event was supported by Indian Seniors of Chicago, United Senior Pariwar, Silver Seniors Group, and Senior Citizen Pariwar. Young people also attended it.
The Raas Garba was kept in the honor of Dr C. L. Shastri, 91, Acharya of Manav Seva Temple, who was instrumental in bhumipujan of five temples in Chicagoland. This was the first Navaratri after his death this year on April 23. He was a big astrologer and headed a premier educational institution in Ahmedabad.
“It is the first local Garba in Chicagoland before Navratri,” Hema Shastri, said. Navratri started on Oct 9 and it was a very successful Garba.” Hema Shastri, daughter-in-law of C. L. Shastri, was the main organizer. “There was no place left in the hall,” Hema said joking about how many people wanted to dance.
SaReGaMa Hitesh Master performed the music and orchestra, and sang good songs while people performed Dandiya and Garba .Music played by Hitesh Master was a mixture of “Ambe Ma” songs and Bollywood Dandiya songs.
Hema’s husband Devesh Shastri helped her a lot in successfully organizing the event. “The Garba went on late till 1 a. m. It was due to blessings of C. L. Shastri that the Raas Garba and Dandiya were successful,” Hema added.
