Chicago Chapter of Hindu Education Foundation (HEF) and Schaumburg Chapter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) organized Guru Vandana program on May 14, 2011 at Hoffman Estate Park Disctrict’s Willow Center to honor school teachers in Schaumburg and surrounding area.  

As teachers arrived, kids from Abhimanyu Shakha lined up in front of Poster Exhibition on Hinduism and Indian culture. Each kid briefly talked about posters in front of the teachers.

Program Coordinator Mr. Manish Joshi started off by welcoming everyone to the program. Group of Teenage kids, Mithul Garg, Ravi Patel, Abby Mohan and Ishan Jog, compeered the program with a theme on the importance of Guru.   Special guest, Mr. Vasant Pandav (HSS), and Mr. Prakash Saunshi (HEF) inaugurated the program by lighting a lamp in front of Saraswati, the Goddess of education.  Young Kids from Abhimanyu Shakha recited Shlokas (Verses in Sanskrit) in praise of Guru.   All the teachers were invited on the stage and their respective students presented a special Memento to them. Around 25 teachers from Schaumburg and surrounding area schools were present at this program.   Cultural program started with beautiful Indian Classical Dance called Kathak by Pragya Kansal (Grade 4). It was followed by group dance on Hindi song “All Izz Well” by 3 boys, Sauruv Garg (Grade 2), Roshan Bhagwakar (Grade 2) and Nikhil Nair (Grade 3). Group of students from Gauri Jog Indian School of Dance presented a beautifully choreographed Indian Classical Dancing. It was followed by a group dance on Hindi song “Barso Re Megha” by 3 girls, Samrudhi Ayachit (Grade ?), Neeti Joshi (Grade 6) and Venya Joshi (Grade 3).   Shweta Desai sang a Hindi song “Uthe Sabke Kadam” which put everyone in singing and dancing mood. And then group of kids lead by Sanjay Patel put up a demonstration of Indian folk dance called “Dandiya”. Kids invited their teachers to join in the folk dance and all of them obliged happily.  

A vote of thanks from Mr. Vinay Kansal concluded the program. It was followed with light snacks. Many teachers came forward and appreciated the program and effort by their students. More than 125 people attended the program and thoroughly enjoyed it.