Sat Sri Akaal Greetings Shalom Namaste Salaam Alikum

7th Issue

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A Member of Indian Parliament representing Amritsar ( Punjab ) visits with the East Indian Community in Chicago.

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Dear Sirs:

I am sending you a clipping of the following story from the visit of Shri R.L. Bhatia to Chicago's Hari Om Mandir. I hope that you will publish this in your esteemed Newspaper. I am also attaching some photographs.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me.

V. Agnihotri, Chicago, IL

June 9, 2001
Medinah, IL USA

Shri Raghunandan Lal Bhatia took some time out from his busy schedule to visit Hari Om Mandir in Medinah, Illinois at the request of the Mandir's President, Mr. Ayodhia N. Salwan. Mr. Bhatia, Member of Parliament from Amritsar Constituency, was here on a visit as part of India's High Level Committee which is in the United States to discuss issues with NRIs regarding India and India's future.

Mr. Salwan presented Mr. Bhatia with a check for US $3827.00 to go towards the Gujarat Earthquake Relief Fund. Mr. Salwan said the money had been generously donated by the devotees of Hari Om Mandir who have always been involved with helping their fellow Indians in their time of need.

The Mandir's Pujari Baba Lal ji Das presented Shri Bhatia ji with a saropa and gave a prayer for the victims of Gujarat's earthquake.

Mr. Bhatia graciously accepted the check and thanked all the bhagats. He assured everyone that the funds would go to the proper authorities and would be used to assist the victims of Gujarat. Mr. Bhatia remarked how lovely the temple's new murtis looked. Last year, Hari Om Mandir had a grand Pran Pratishtha ceremony with swamis and sadhus from India to commemorate the new marble murtis that were imported from Jaipur, India.

Mr. Bhatia also told the sangat how pleased he was to see that they had preserved their Indian culture, despite being thousands of miles away from their homeland. He told the gathering that he hoped they would continue to keep their traditions and heritage alive.

Hari Om Mandir President Mr. Ayodhia Salwan presenting Shri R.L. Bhatia with a Check for US $3827.00 to go towards the Gujarat Earthquake Relief
L to R: Mr. Harmesh Singla, Priest Committee
           Shri R.L. Bhatia, MP Amritsar
           Baba Lal Ji Das, Mandir Pujari
           Mr. Ayodhia Salwan, President, Executive Board
           Mr. Avtar Bhandari, Secretary Board of Trustees

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Hari Om Mandir President Mr. Ayodhia Salwan presenting Shri R.L. Bhatia with a Check for US $3827.00 to go towards the Gujarat Earthquake Relief
L to R: Mr. Harmesh Singla, Priest Committee
           Mr. Avtar Bhandari, Secretary Board of Trustees
           Shri R.L. Bhatia, MP Amritsar
           Baba Lal Ji Das, Mandir Pujari
           Mr. Ayodhia Salwan, President, Executive Board

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