Sai Rainbow & Sai Palki Utsav celebrated

Sai Palki
Sai Palki

CHICAGO: Shri Dwarkamai celebrated the 10th Anniversary of Shri Dwarkamai Sai Rainbow and Sai Palki Utsav on Saturday April 16 at Margaret Mead Jr. High School in Elk Grove Village, a northwest Chicago suburb. The event was attended by hundreds of devotees from different walks of life, with their families and friends.

Dwarkamai Chicago Sai Palki started 10 years ago in Chicago land .Hari Prasad and Sai Roopa, the two devotees, had a vision to spread the teaching of Shirdi Sai Baba in the Chicago area. Through their hard work, commitment and sacrifice, they have grown the Sai Palki spiritual journey from a few houses over one week to hundreds of houses over several months covering Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin area. So many volunteers dedicate their time and effort to make Sai Palki successful every year.

The program started with singing the Indian National Anthem by all Dwarkamai kids. A spectacular Cultural Program was organized between 9:00 am to 11:00 am. An Invocation Dance, “Pushpanjali”, was followed by a vocal performance in praise of Lord Ganesha. A Kuchipudi dance on Lord Ganesha was the next attraction.

A gripping dance performance on Lord Shiva song, a semi classical Kuchipudi Dance on Goddess Lalitha Devi, a classical fusion dance based on Hanuman Chalisa, a devotional dance, “Kathak Teen Taal”, in praise of Lord Krishna, a fusion dance medley on Lord Shiva and Lord Shri Rama were followed by the Grand Finale of the Cultural Program consisting of a dance medley presented by all the devotees of Shirdi Sai Baba, dedicated to Lord Shiva and Shirdi Sai Baba.

The Sai Palki Darshan and Procession took place from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. It consisted of taking the Shri Sai Baba Palki (palanquin) with the picture of Shri Shirdi Sai around the school gym area accompanied by singing of hymns, chanting, dancing and spiritual merriment in the form of a religious procession.

The event concluded with the Aarti and Bhandara (Maha Prasad) between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm.
Attractive stalls on clothing, jewelry, real estate and Shri Dwarkamai were put up at the venue, which not only added to the beauty of the event but also attracted the attention of the devotees.

Shri Dwarkamai is dedicated to organizing events and conducting activities directed towards personal spiritual development of the community based on Shri Shirdi Sai philosophy. The operations include running centers of spiritual excellence, lectures by Vedic scholars, health and wellness professionals, meditation sessions, yoga, and kids’ enrichment activities.

Suresh Bodiwala
Asian Media USA