Prayer in progress during celebration
CHICAGO: Jain Society of Chicago celebrated the festival of Deepavali on a grand scale for a period of three days from Friday November 5 to Sunday November 7 in Jain center in Bartlett, a northwest Chicago suburb.
Participation was from members of Indian society at large. The event started in the evening on Friday with Ghantakaran Poojan performed by Hiteshbhai Shah who came from Baroda to Chicago for the celebration of this year Deepawali festival. Many devotees participated in this Poojan.
On the next day very early in the morning Digamber devotees performed Nirwaan laadoo pooja in which about 250 members participated. In the evening a musical group headed by Jitendrabhai Joshi performed old and new filmy as well as famous Gujarati songs.
This event was sponsored by Shri and Smt Rohitbhai Shah, a society member and an insurance agent in Chicago area. Members of the society were entertained with a live musical performance by a group called Malhar from Canada.
On this occasion, Piyush Shah, youth secretary of the society as well as Ms. Vaishali Shah were recognized to support numerous activities for the youth and children. Shri and Smt Hemendrabhai and Chandrikaben Shah have donated $ 500 towards opening of the door of the temple in the early morning on the next day.
On Sunday, the final day of the celebration Ashtaprakari pooja was performed with an English explanation in which every members of the society participated. In the afternoon Derividhi pooja was performed. The three day Deepawali program organized by Jain Society of Chicago was a grand success.
Suresh Shah
