Page 20 - The Indian EYE 070425

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JULY 04, 2025 | The Indian Eye 20

Over 1,000 Celebrate International Yoga

Day with Mindful Meditation and Yoga

L to R : Atul Wahi (President United Punjabis of America), Simran Ahuja (Bollywood EmCee), Hitesh L to R : Congressman Bill Foster, Sunil Shah (Founder and Chairman of FIA), Consulate General
Gandhi (Past President FIA), Sunil Shah (Founder Chairman FIA), Anu Malhotra (President FIA). of India Somnath Ghosh, Anu Malhotra (President FIA)

OUR BUREAU heritage globally.
A ceremonial lamp lighting brought together
Naperville, IL
all dignitaries, honored guests, and heads of the
he 11th International Yoga Day celebration sponsoring organizations, including leaders from
in Chicagoland brought together more than Mindful Meditation Yoga, FIA-Chicago, and other
T1,000 participants at The Matrix Club in Na- community associations. The moment symbolized
perville, marking the largest Yoga Day event in the the collective aspiration toward enlightenment,
region. Led by Mindful Meditation Yoga under the unity, and peace.
leadership of President and Certified Yoga Guru The highlight of the event was the meditation
Anu Malhotra, and FIA-Chicago under Chairman session led by Anu Malhotra, which went beyond
Sunil Shah, the event created an atmosphere of physical postures to offer participants emotional
unity, wellness, and spiritual elevation. Attendees doing yoga with Anu Malhotra clarity and spiritual grounding. Many described
Organized in collaboration with the Consul- the experience as deeply peaceful and transforma-
ate General of India in Chicago, GSA Global Eye tone for the day. Under the energetic guidance of tive—aligning perfectly with the essence of yoga as
Magazine, the American Multi Ethnic Commis- Anu Malhotra, more than 70 volunteers helped a unifying and healing discipline.
sion USA, United Punjabis of America, the Indian coordinate the event, which featured a full yoga The celebration concluded with a communal
American Medical Association, and the American session comprising asanas (physical postures), pra- distribution of Prasadam and a coordinated clean-
Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, the nayama (breathing techniques), and meditation. up effort, honoring the yogic principle of Karma
event saw enthusiastic participation from a broad The session was accompanied by live, soul-stirring Yoga—selfless service. Volunteers from Mindful
cross-section of the Indian-American communi- music from renowned musician Navneet Malhotra, Meditation Yoga, FIA-Chicago, and Sewa Interna-
ty. Additional support came from respected phy- which elevated the experience into a deeply medi- tional ensured every detail of the event, from logis-
sicians and philanthropists including Dr. Prakash tative and immersive journey. tics to decor, was handled with dedication and care.
Shah, Dr. Ashok Mehta, and the team at Expert Celebrity emcee Simran Ahuja welcomed the The event was also supported by several oth-
Pain Physicians & SKN Institute. audience and introduced Anu Malhotra, who de- er organizations, including the Sant Nirankari
The event was graced by prominent dignitar- livered a short but impactful address on the rel- Mission, Arya Samaj of Chicagoland, A3N Me-
ies: Congressman Bill Foster, Consul General of evance of yoga in today’s fast-paced world. FIA dia, Sewa International, and Hindu Satsang. Their
India in Chicago Somnath Ghosh, Consul Sanjeev Chairman Sunil Shah followed with an inspiring combined efforts contributed to a seamless and
Kumar Pal, Naperville’s First Lady Lynda Wehr- speech lauding the growing importance of yogic meaningful experience for all attendees.
li, Councilman Ashfaq Hussain Syed, and City of wisdom in everyday life and praising Anu Malho- This year’s International Yoga Day was more
Aurora CIO Ram Tyagi. Cultural and community tra for her sincere efforts in promoting authentic than just a celebration—it was a movement that
leaders from across the region also attended, along yoga practices. reflected the growing commitment to conscious
with past FIA Presidents Pratibha Jairath, Vinita Congressman Foster and Consul General living, spiritual discipline, and cultural unity in
Gulabani, and Hitesh Gandhi. Ghosh echoed this sentiment in their respective ad- Chicagoland’s Indian-American community. Root-
The morning began with punctuality and grace, dresses, emphasizing how yoga builds mental bal- ed in ancient Indian traditions and executed with
as the program opened with spiritually enriching ance, emotional resilience, and physical well-being. modern purpose, it stood as a testament to the
solo and group yoga songs performed by local Both leaders praised the Indo-American commu- power of yoga to bring people together in pursuit
musicians. These musical offerings set a reflective nity for preserving and promoting India’s cultural of peace, health, and higher awareness.

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