United Senior Pariwar Chicago celebrates Maha Shivratri, Valentine’s Day, and health awareness seminar
By: Jayanti Oza
On Sunday, February 16, 2025, over 300 members of United Senior Pariwar, Chicago, gathered at Swaminarayan Mandir in Wheeling, Illinois, to celebrate Maha Shivratri, Valentine’s Day, and attend a health awareness seminar led by Dr. Ashish Patel. The event began with a heartfelt Prarthna and Shiv Stuti, sung by a devoted member, which engaged all attendees in a spirit of devotion.
The ceremonial Deep Pragatya was performed by Dr. Ashish Patel and the organization’s president, with the vice president leading the Swalok chanting. A member of the community then captivated the audience with a melodious bhajan dedicated to Lord Shiva. To honor Dr. Patel, the vice president presented him with a bouquet of flowers.
Dr. Ashish Patel, from Horizon Medical Center in Schaumburg, delivered an informative and engaging talk on diabetes and heart-related health issues. He explained the fundamentals of diabetes, including its causes, types, and diagnostic sugar level ranges. Emphasizing prevention, he advised the audience to incorporate daily exercise, specifically recommending a 30-minute walk. Additionally, he covered topics such as cholesterol, blood pressure, and heart disease, offering practical tips on how to reduce cardiovascular risks. The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, where Dr. Patel addressed the members’ health concerns and provided valuable advice.
The event also included the celebration of February birthdays, with the community presenting sweet packets to the birthday celebrants as tokens of appreciation. The vice president gave a speech on the significance of Maha Shivratri.
A moment of silence was observed to honor the memories of departed community members, offering heartfelt condolences to their families.
The event wrapped up with a delightful Kathiyawadi lunch, catered by Swaminarayan Mandir in Wheeling, leaving attendees with a sense of fulfillment and strengthened community bonds.
