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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline FEBRUARY 27, 2026 | The Indian Eye 28

Chicago’s Indian Diaspora Celebrates ‘Valentine’s Vibes –

Dil Me Ho Tum’ with Unforgettable Romance and Rhythm

OUR BUREAU

Chicago, IL
n a crisp February evening in
2026, the grand halls of Ma-
Oharaj Banquets in Franklin
Park, Illinois, transformed into a pul-
sating haven of love, music, and pure
desi magic. Doors opened at 6:30 pm
on Saturday, February 14th Valen-
tine’s Day itself for “Valentine’s Vibes;
Dil Me Ho Tum,” an enchanting cel-
ebration of romance co-organized by
Maharaj Banquets [Sahail Khan and
A J singh] and the ever-charismat-
ic Dr. Anu Gupta. Under the expert
event planning of Hitesh Master and
the warm, witty hosting of Chinmayi
Bhatt-Desai, the night unfolded like
a Bollywood dream sequence come
to life, blending soul-stirring melo-
dies, electrifying dance, laughter, and
heartfelt connections.
Chinmayi Bhatt-Desai, with her
trademark charm and over three
decades of stage presence, opened
the evening memorably by quoting
a timeless romantic dialogue from
the classic film Silsila: “Main aur
meri tanhayi, aksar yeh baatein karte
hain… tum hoti to kaisa hota…” The
line instantly set a dreamy, poetic
mood, evoking stolen glances, unspo-
ken longing, and the magic of love—
perfectly priming the audience for an
unforgettable night of romance.
The evening kicked off with
Chinmayi Bhatt-Desai sparkling in-
troduction, setting a tone of joy and
anticipation. As guests savored ap-
petizers, 15-year-old prodigy Shub-
ham Thakkar took center stage on
the keyboard, delivering youthful
passion through timeless tracks like Pagal Hai,” “Yeh Kaali Kaali Aank- The live band, Hitesh Master Midwest Silver Club, Dr. Anu Gupta,
“Moh Moh Ke Dhage,” “Abhi Mujh hen,” “Mere Khwabon Mein,” and Orchestra, provided seamless Sa Hetul Thakker, Maharaj Banquets,
Mein Kahin,” and “Bulleya.” Trained “Ladki Badi Anjaani.” The chemistry Re Ga Ma vibes throughout, with and every guest and supporter who
for over seven years under Hitesh soared through romantic duets like Hitesh Master Nayak on keyboard, made the night memorable.
Master Nayak in Hindustani classical “Dil Mein Ho Tum,” “Tu Meri Zind- Raju Syed on guitar, Bobby Messy Nestled in Franklin Park, Ma-
traditions and pursuing his Visharad agi Hai,” “Tu Shayar Hai,” “Jhumka on congo and dholak, Kalyan Pathak haraj Banquets is the perfect venue
certification, Shubham’s performance Gira Re,” “Neele Neele Ambar,” on drums, Anand Master Nayak for every dream event, accommodat-
was a beautiful reminder of how ded- “Aisi Deewangi,” “Tujhe Dekha To handling sound, Dinesh Patel as DJ, ing up to 300 guests and specializing
ication and riyaaz can shine even at a Yeh Jaana Sanam,” “Ek Pyar Ka Gabriel on lights, and Poornima Dec- in weddings, corporate gatherings,
tender age. Nagma Hai,” “Pehla Nasha,” and a orators creating a dreamy stage. A and all occasions.
The spotlight then shifted to two heartfelt string of favorites—“Mile lively photo booth captured candid The vibrant Valentine’s evening
powerhouse vocalists: the versatile Ho Tum Humko,” “Jub Koi Baat,” moments of joy, while the non-stop setup features stunning decorative
Bollywood sensation Swapnil Sahu “Ye Sama Sama Hai,” “Pal Pal Dil Ke dance floor pulsed with energy. tables and chairs adorned with red
and the inspiring Dr. Anu Gupta. Paas,” and “Pyar Deewana.” Swap- Over 80 enthusiastic members bows, while the delicious multi-cui-
Their introduction sparked thunder- nil’s solo renditions of “Meri Bechaini from the Midwest Silver Club added sine menu blends Indian, Pakistani,
ous applause, and together they wove Ko,” “Janam Janam,” and “Musku- extra warmth to the gathering. Spe- Italian, American, and Mexican dish-
magic with a medley of evergreen rane Ki” added layers of emotion, cial thanks poured out to Sunil Shah, es tailored for banquets.
classics “Tip Tip Barsa Paani,” “Dil To while the crowd swayed in unison. Dr. Radhika Chimata, Noor Tejani of -- Asian Media USA

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