Lamp lighting ceremony at Seniors event
CHICAGO: United Senior Pariwar, one of the largest seniors associations in Chicago area recently celebrated 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, holy festival Mahasakranti, 63rd Republic Day of India as well as death anniversary of Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi on a grand scale.
The Chief Guest of the event was a leading businessman of Chicago area and community activist Mafatbhai Patel and Guest of Honor was Mrs. Usha Kamaria of Skokie.
The event started with lamp lighting ceremony by the members of seniors association. Acharya Rohitbhai Joshi performed the religious ceremony. Over 135 members participated in this event. Suresh Shah, Secretary of the association, welcomed the guests and members and submitted a detailed report of the activities being carried out by the seniors association.
Rohit Bhai Joshi explained the purpose behind celebrating the event of Makarsakranti (kite festival). He also spoke about the Martyrs’ Day of Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi and requested the members of senior association to follow his principles in daily life.
Mrs. Usha Kamaria spoke about celebration of 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. She said the Government of India had already decided to celebrate this year as a birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda from January 12, and the celebration has already started. She also congratulated organizers of seniors’ association for celebrating this event in Chicago area too. She said that Swami Vivekananda came to Chicago in the year 1893 to address an assembly of Parliament of World Religions and he delivered a magnificent lecture on September 11,1893.
One of the members of the seniors association Ajitbhai Majmudar read a Gujarati version of the lecture given by Swami Vivekananda in the assembly of Parliament of World Religion in the year 1893.
Ramanbhai Patel, president of senior association, also spoke about celebration of 63rd Republic Day of India. He paid tributes to the leaders of India who fought for freedom and told the members to root out corruption and fight for that.
He thanked the members for giving their full support in all the activities of the association. He declared that seniors association will celebrate 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda for the whole year and different activities will be carried out during this period.
Chairman of Board of Trustees of Seniors Association and chief guest of the event Mafatbhai Patel thanked all the members for giving their support to the association and welcomed the decision taken by the authorities to celebrate 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda for an entire year. He suggested that learned dignitaries may be invited to speak on him.
Thereafter members of senior association celebrated birthdays for the month of January 2012 and a birthday card was presented to the members by Mafatbhai Patel. A delicious dinner was served and all the members enjoyed it.
It was announced that the next meeting will be held on Sunday February 19 in Kathy Hall as usual. Only members were requested to attend.
SURESH SHAH
