Connect with us

America

Hari Om Mandir 29th Annual Fundraising
Image
Image

Chicago IL: Hari Om Mandir (Temple) organized its 29th Annual Fund Raising Dinner at Pearl Banquet Hall, which was attended by many long-time devotees and also several new faces.
 
The evening began with puja performed by the Mandir's priest, Pandit Dinesh Kumar. The traditional lamp lighting ceremony was performed by Sat Pal Salwan, Board of Trustees Chairman, Vipan Wadhera, Executive Board President, and Anil Saxena, Fund Raising Chairman & Executive Board Vice-President.
 
Anil Saxena then welcomed the crowd and thanked everyone for coming. He then turned the microphone over to the MCs for the evening, Mrs. Sangeeta Wadhera and Mrs. Indu Wadhwa. Both did a fantastic and very professional job of managing the event and schedule throughout the night.
 
In his message to the audience, Anil Saxena once again thanked everyone for attending and also the advertisers and sponsors of the program. With their help, the Mandir provides a souvenir book to all attendees, filled with useful information, advertisements, and important dates for various events and pujas.
 
Saxena also reminded everyone that no "donation is too small." He encouraged everyone to also "donate" their time and energy to ensure the Mandir's success. He went on to encourage the younger generation to become involved with the Mandir.
 
Executive Board President, Vipan Wadhera, also addressed the audience. He reminded everyone that the temple belong to all and it upkeep, maintenance and growth is also our joint responsibility. Any donation made today is for them as this is their home. He also said that this is the home for the next generation and asked all the parents there to bring their children to the temple at least one Sunday a month if not all. He thanks all for bringing the temple to present stage while following their ideas and wishes, He shared future projects on hand as ; resurfacing of whole Parking Lot, A dome around Hanuman Ji Murti, elevator for seniors  for easy access to basement Hall and repainting of Hanuman Ji Murti. He thanked profusely the Fundraiser Chairman and his team, other Board Members, volunteers and specially the audience.
 
Later in the evening, Board of Trustees Chairman Sal Pal Salwan shared the mission statement saying the primary objective of the Temple is maintain permanent place for worship and conduct religious, educational and social programs. He thanked all for the success of all the programs so far held at the temple... he also encouraged people to come to temple with their families NAD friends and their children. He stressed the need of more involvement of the younger generation. He thanked Anil Saxena and his team for a job well done and putting up such a wonderful show.
 
Throughout the evening, the crowd was treated to a musical concert, comprising professional singers and fine musicians that made the evening worth-remembering for the guests. The renditions by the singers were thoroughly enjoyed by the seniors and the youngsters alike. They come up with several old melodies that made most of the people nostalgic. The also performed some of the requests from public. It was like a journey down memory lane with songs like; Aa Ja Re Pardesi, mein to kab se khari is paar & Wo bhuli dastan lo phir yad aa gayi – Dr. Sarita Pawar from UK performing for the first time in USA, Jo vada kiya who nibhana parega – Raju Bankapur & Pratibha Jairath, Naino mein badra chaye, bijli si chamke haye – Pratibha Jairath. The voices of all the singers were very appropriate for the song chosen. People hummed and danced to these songs. Pratibha Jairath gave a solo Dance performance also.
 
There was a variety in the entertainment with an invocation dance by Athira, a beautiful performance by a dance group from Indian dance school of Gauri Jog. One of the highlights of the evening was the Giddha Dance a super performance by our own Giddha Group (Hari Om Mandir Giddha Group).  This traditional Punjabi folk dance, full of energy and colorful dresses, was performed by several female devotees of the Mandir, and enhanced the festive environment. Everyone got excited and whistled the whole time. The fun went on even after dinner for quite a while.
 
Fabulous door prizes, including a Fitbit Charge 2, digital picture and video frame, and restaurant gift certificates were awarded to some lucky individuals. Raffle prizes were also given to attendees.
 
In the evenings closing comments, Anil Saxena told the audience that the fund raising efforts will continue till the end of the year. “Anyone interested in making a donation may either contact the Temple (Phone: 630 980 0900 // Website:  http://www.harmmandir.org/) or e-mail him at Saxena [email protected]”, he added.The event started with a social hour and an assortment of appetizers and concluded with a sumptuous dinner and dessert that was relished by one and all.
 
Executive Board: Vipan Wadhera, President; Anil Saxena, Vice President; Anita Rawal, Secretary; Gopal Tiwari, Treasurer; Aarty Singla, Inside Property Management; Jeetu Patel, Special Events; Ramesh Bhardwaj, Outside Property Management; Ashok Sharma, Publication; Shubh Sharma, Food & Prasad.
 
Board of Trustees: Sat Pal Salwan, Chairman; Krishan Tejpal, Vice Chairman; Naveen Paul, Secretary; Ram Verma, Mahendra Thakkar, Subhash Sharma, Chandru Bhojwani, and Upma Hardy.