Chicago, Illinois, USA: More than 500 people gathered for the Indian Seniors of Chicago’s annual Diwali celebration held at Manav Seva Mandir in Bensenville.
On October 11, the Indian Seniors of Chicago hosted their much-awaited Diwali event at Manav Seva Mandir in Bensenville, Illinois. Nearly 500 members and guests attended the festive evening filled with cultural performances, devotional prayers, and acknowledgements of community leaders.
The ceremony began with the lighting of the traditional lamp, performed by founder Narsinghbhai Patel and president Dilipbhai Patel, alongside chief guests Chhotalal Patel, Dahyabhai Prajapati, Haribhai Patel, Bhailalbhai Patel, and Rajendrabhai Chauhan.
Treasurer Hemant Modi opened the program by welcoming attendees and speaking about the group’s upcoming jubilee year, noting that both milestones will be celebrated together soon. President Dilipbhai Patel presented floral bouquets to the guests and highlighted the organisation’s continuous efforts to strengthen unity among Chicago’s senior Indian community.
Chief guest Chhotalal Patel shared insights on living a healthy and fulfilling life. He encouraged everyone to maintain daily routines that promote wellness, saying, “A balanced life requires regular exercise, plenty of water, sufficient rest, nutritious meals, and positive thinking.” He also congratulated the group for organising such a joyous occasion.
The entertainment segment showcased a variety of devotional and folk performances. Singers Panna Shah and Jayshree Seth opened with Shankar Stuti followed by a graceful dance to Satyam Shivam Sundaram. A karaoke round featured talented members, including Jayanti Oza, Hemant Modi, Pushpa Parekh, Daksha Parikh, Ashwin Thakkar, Jashwant Seth, and Arvind Kotke. Group songs and dances such as Maro Sonano Ghadulo and Vagyo Re Dhol added to the festive cheer. Performances by Saroj Patel’s and Deepak’s groups celebrated popular Gujarati and Hindi film melodies.
Laughter filled the hall during a humorous skit titled “Alexa Tu Kya Che?”, which received enthusiastic applause from the audience. All participants and performers were later honoured by President Dilipbhai Patel and Vice President Kantibhai Patel for their contributions.
The evening concluded with a nostalgic musical session by Rajesh Chalam, who entertained everyone with timeless Hindi classics.
Before closing, organiser Panna Shah expressed gratitude to all volunteers, donors, and media representatives, including Jayanti Oza and Bhailalbhai Patel from Parikh Media, for their continued encouragement and support.
