By: Dr. Avi Verma

Devotional gathering will raise awareness and funds for building renovation and efforts to carry Swami Vivekananda’s teachings to future generations

The Vivekanand Spiritual Center (VSC) is bringing members of the Indian-American community together for an afternoon of devotion, music and community service with a special “Bhajan Jamming” session at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago in Lemont.

The program will be held on Sunday, September 6, 2026, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at the Rathi Auditorium of the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago, 10915 Rd, Lemont, IL 60439.

The event is being organized to create greater awareness about the Vivekanand Spiritual Center and raise funds for the renovation of its building, while supporting the center’s broader mission of preserving and promoting the teachings and philosophy of Swami Vivekananda among future generations.

The initiative is the result of the hard work and commitment of Amrish Mahajan, Dr. Sudha Rao and their team, who have been working to bring devotees and members of the wider Indian-American community together in support of the center.

An afternoon of non-stop devotional music

The approximately 2½-hour program will feature non-stop bhajans, shlokas, the Hanuman Chalisa and other devotional songs and chants representing different regions and traditions of India.

Unlike a conventional concert in which audiences primarily listen to performers, the Bhajan Jamming format encourages devotees to actively participate and sing along.

Organizers describe the gathering as a serene and spiritual experience where people can immerse themselves in devotional music while sharing the experience with family, friends and fellow devotees.

Bhajan jamming has become increasingly popular in India and is also gaining popularity at temples and community gatherings throughout metropolitan Chicago.

Celebrating India’s diverse spiritual heritage

A special feature of the program will be its effort to bring together devotional traditions from across India.

Bhajans, shlokas and collective chanting have long been an important part of India’s spiritual and cultural heritage. They provide a common language through which people from different regions, linguistic backgrounds and generations can participate together.

The program will include familiar devotional compositions and collective recitations, creating an opportunity for attendees to become part of the musical experience rather than simply observe a performance.

For Indian-American families, the event also provides an opportunity for younger generations to experience India’s devotional traditions in a community setting.

Preserving Swami Vivekananda’s message

The fundraising effort has a purpose that extends beyond renovation.

The Vivekanand Spiritual Center seeks to create a stronger physical and community foundation from which it can continue promoting the teachings of Swami Vivekananda.

Swami Vivekananda’s message of spirituality, service, self-confidence, universal brotherhood and the importance of India’s spiritual heritage has resonated across generations and around the world.

The center’s supporters believe that keeping these teachings relevant to younger generations is particularly important at a time when Indian-American families are seeking meaningful ways to connect their children and grandchildren with India’s cultural and spiritual heritage.

The planned building renovation is therefore being viewed not simply as a physical improvement, but as an investment in the center’s future and its ability to serve as a place for spiritual learning, community engagement and the transmission of Vivekananda’s ideals to coming generations.

Community effort led by Mahajan and Dr. Rao

The Bhajan Jamming initiative reflects the sustained efforts of Amrish Mahajan, Dr. Sudha Rao and their team to generate greater community awareness and participation.

Their work highlights the importance of community involvement in sustaining cultural and spiritual institutions.

By bringing people together through music and devotion, the organizers hope to create both an enjoyable spiritual experience and an opportunity for community members to contribute toward a larger purpose.

The fundraising initiative is intended to help provide the resources necessary for the renovation of the VSC building and support its continuing efforts to introduce younger generations to the teachings of Swami Vivekananda.

Families and friends invited

The organizers are inviting devotees, families and community members from throughout the Chicago area to attend.

The event is being promoted as an opportunity to spend a Sunday afternoon in a peaceful and spiritually uplifting environment while participating directly in devotional singing.

With attendees joining in the bhajans and chanting, the organizers anticipate an atmosphere of collective prayer, music, devotion and fellowship.

Community members are encouraged to bring their families and friends and share the invitation with others who may be interested in devotional music, Indian spirituality and the work of the Vivekanand Spiritual Center.

For Amrish Mahajan, Dr. Sudha Rao and their team, the event represents more than an afternoon of bhajans.

It is an effort to bring the community together in devotion, strengthen an important spiritual institution, renovate its physical home and, most importantly, help ensure that the timeless teachings of Swami Vivekananda continue to inspire generations of Indian-Americans in the years ahead.

In bringing the community together through bhajans, the organizers hope to turn devotion into participation, participation into service, and service into a lasting legacy for future generations.

The Bhajan Jamming Session will take place:

Sunday, September 6, 2026
3:30–6:00 p.m.
Rathi Auditorium
Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago
10915 Rd, Lemont, IL 60439