Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi attends Dev Darshan Senior Center Diwali 

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US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi was among the special guests at the Diwali and garba celebration hosted by Dev Darshan Senior Center at the Haridham Swaminarayan Temple in Chicago recently. The theme of the November 23, celebration was, “Where Friends Become Family,” and the event celebrated unity, devotion, and cultural heritage, a press release from organizers said.

In his speech to the gathering, Rep. Krishnamoorthy praised the center for its role as a cornerstone of cultural and social enrichment for seniors.

Mika Shastri welcomed the guests and introduced emcee Anica Dubey, who set the tone of the evening with her words, “Tonight, we honor the triumph of good over evil and the divinity of the feminine spirit.”

A sacred Aarti ceremony opened the festivities, invoking blessings from Goddess Ambe Maa and paying homage to the late scholar and spiritual leader Acharya Dr. C. L. Shastri. Family members of Dr. Shastri, including Hema, Devesh, and Mika Shastri, participated in the tribute.

Several distinguished dignitaries were honored with bouquets including Rep. Krishnamoorthy, former NBA player Amal McAskill, leading physician Dr. Bharat Barai, AMEC founder Dr. Vijay Prabhakar, philanthropists Manish Gandhi and his spouse, and physician Dr. Ashok Shah.

Highlights of the evening included a Krishna dance by Dev Darshan Senior Center founder Hema Shastri, soulful musical performances by Melody Mahesh Kumar and Poonam Potdar, and Garba songs by Shailendra Bhatnagar and Bhavna Thakkar, which brought the audience to its feet.

Special recognition was given to sponsors, volunteers, and community leaders, including Syed Hussaini from Standard Homecare, Brian from Advance Care, and leaders of senior groups like Friendship Senior Group, United Seniors Parivar, and Indian Seniors of Chicago.

Dev Darshan Senior Center, now in its second year, holds yoga, meditation, cultural events, and motivational gatherings for its members. The center also announced its annual membership contribution for 2025 at $50 per member.

The evening concluded with a vote of thanks from Shastri.