Shri Hanuman Mahotsav celebrated by Hari Om Temple in Medinah, Illinois

Hariom Temple President, Vipin Vadhera, is welcoming guests and devotees while providing instructions for the Havan. ALL PHOTOS: Jayanti Oza

Medinah, IL — In a display of devotion and community spirit, Hari Om Mandir in Medinah, Illinois, hosted a Shri Hanuman Mahotsav on June 1, 2025, drawing more than 900 devotees from across the Chicagoland area. The celebration was marked by sacred rituals, recitations, and cultural performances,

Invited guests and members of management team,Devotees are are attentively listening to the Hanuman Chalisa, melodiously sung by Ajay Yagnik.

The event was organized under the leadership of Chairman Brij Sharma, President Vipin Wadhera, Acharya Vajpayee, and Anurag Awasthi. The morning began with a Sapta Kundi Havan performed by around 50 families, invoking divine blessings in a traditional Vedic ceremony.

Acharya Vajpayee ji is performing the Havan rituals and guiding the devotees through the puja.

At 12:30 PM, renowned singer Ajay Yagnik led the congregation in the recitation of the Sundar Kand and Hanuman Chalisa. Flower petals were showered from a helicopter onto the towering idol of Lord Hanuman placed at the center of the temple grounds, which according to a press release, left attendees awe-inspired and deeply moved.

The festivities continued with a cultural program by children watched by proud parents and others who expressed pride in the younger generation embracing and celebrating their heritage.

Ajay Yagnik is joined by Hariom Temple President, Vipin Vadhera, volunteers and children from the Gurukul.

In his closing remarks, Chairman Brij Sharma and President Vipin Wadhera thanked all the guests, volunteers, and media personnel, including Jayanti Oza, a Chicago-based journalist who covered the event. As a token of blessings, idols of Hanumanji were gifted to all attending guests.

Founded by the Hindu Society of Metropolitan Chicago, Hari Om Mandir has grown from its humble beginnings in the 1960s as the Gita Society to a prominent temple and cultural center. Since opening its permanent location in Medinah in 1987, and undergoing expansion in 2000, the Mandir now houses deities revered by the community, including Vaishno Devi Mata, Radha Krishna, and Shiv Panchayat.

Hari Om Mandir offers regular Sunday services, children’s classes, senior programs, and hosts major Hindu festivals such as Janmashtami, Ramnaumi, and Deepawali. For more information, email info@hariommandir.org or call 603-980-0900