Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago Showcases Hindu Culture At D.C. Festival

LEMONT, IL — The Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago in Lemont recently showcased the Hindu culture at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The festival theme, "Creative Encounters: Living Religions in the U.S," provided a platform for various religious institutions to share their faiths and experiences, with HTGC chosen as the torchbearer of Hindu traditions, according to a release from the temple.

"Representing Hinduism at this prestigious event in our nation's capital was an absolute blessing for us," Dr. Banoo Sharma, the President of HTGC, said in a release.

10 members from the temple made the journey to Washington, D.C., bringing programs, panel discussions and demonstrations about the Hindu religion, practices and customs. Taking center stage was an ad hoc prayer area featuring a miniature temple dedicated to the beloved Hindu deity, Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, the temple said.

The skilled priests, Yagneshwaran and Vanamoorthi Achari, charmed the audience with their rituals, prayers and expressions of devotion to the Elephant-headed God. Over the course of the 10-day festival, countless visitors were privileged to receive blessings from Lord Ganesha and experience Hindu worship, according to the release.

There was also a display of "rangoli and kolams," which are traditional decorative art forms made with rice flour and colors. The artistic prowess of team members Kripa Ganapathy, Rohini Udupa, Anusha Yagneshwaran, and Manimala Paramasivam showcased a kaleidoscope of creative designs, according to the release.

"The HTGC exhibit was a highlight for many attendees," Woodman Taylor, one of the festival's curators, said in a release. "People from various faiths, including members of the Indian diaspora communities, were deeply moved by the respectful representation of their own religion and found solace in seeking blessings from Lord Ganesha."

The gastronomic dimension of Hinduism was also featured, with sacred food demonstrations led by Dr. Rohini Udupa, assisted by Dr. Ranga Chandrasekaran. Through four sessions, festivalgoers were treated to an exploration of the preparation of "prasadams," the sacred food offerings made in Hindu temples.

The temple also held two panel discussions; "Building a Temple, Growing a Community: The Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago," featuring Bhanoo Sharma, Bansi Sharma, Shatender Singh, Vanamoorthi Achari and Ranga Chandrasekaran; and "Yoga and the Promotion of Holistic Well-being," led by Kiran Ramineni, Poonam Gupta and Jay Kalanthil.

Lastly, the temple also offered hands-on clay sculpture workshops during the festival. Participants engaged in clay modeling of Lord Ganesha, led by Vanamoorthi Achari, and sculpting Shiva-lingams, guided by Paramasivam.

"This was an immensely fulfilling experience for us," Chandrasekaran, who helped organize the temple's participation in the fest, said in a release. "Witnessing people from diverse religions and communities come together to appreciate the beauty of our culture and diversity was truly uplifting."