The Indian Panorama

Tag: Somnath Ghosh

  • Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Hosts Grand Diwali Celebration at City Hall

    Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Hosts Grand Diwali Celebration at City Hall

    CHICAGO, IL (TIP): In the heart of the Windy City, where steel skyscrapers pierce the autumn sky like defiant sentinels, a different kind of light pierced through on October 20, 2025. At Chicago City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle Street, the grand Diwali Festival of Light Reception unfolded like a living tapestry, weaving tradition, triumph, and togetherness. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, in partnership with the Indian American Business Council, hosted a grand Diwali Celebration Reception at City Hall. The event, illuminated by glowing lamps, vibrant hues, and harmonious melodies, affirmed amid global divisions that Diwali’s enduring light prevails over darkness.

    The festivities opened with a traditional Lamp Lighting Ceremony, embodying Diwali’s spirit. Ajeet Singh, President of the Indian American Business Council, led the rite, joined by Mayor Johnson; Consul General of India Somnath Ghosh; City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Irvin; Alderwoman Shweta Baid of Aurora; Alderman David Moore; and community leaders Neil Khot, Sunil Shah, Harish Kolasani, Ganesh Kar, Harry Mohan, and Keerthi Ravoori.

    The evening escalated into vibrant energy through music and interactive dance, guided by Ajanta Chakraborty and her team, diverging from tradition to foster communal exuberance.

    Mayor Johnson with the young performers.

    In his address, Mayor Johnson stated, “As long as I’m mayor, we will always host the Diwali celebration at City Hall.” This commitment underscores a vision for a city shaped by immigrants, dreamers, and innovators worldwide. He praised Chicago’s diversity as a global strength and lauded Indian Americans’ contributions to its essence. “Now more than ever, we require peace and joy” to establish Chicago as a beacon of inclusion, prosperity, and dignity.

    During the lively dances, Mayor Johnson received dandiya sticks and participated with graceful steps, accompanied by Consul General Somnath Ghosh and other dignitaries.

    City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Irvin offered Diwali greetings, declaring, “Diversity is our strength—our superpower.” Addressing the children, she noted, “You embody the world’s goodness.” She acknowledged Consul General Ghosh and Ajeet Singh, concluding, “This builds bridges: today yours, tomorrow mine.”

    Consul General of India Somnath Ghosh invoked poetic depth: “Namaste—happy Diwali.” Thanking officials and organizers, he observed, “Diwali’s smallest flame dispels the deepest darkness, delivering peace to turmoil, prosperity to want, and love to hatred.” He urged a return to inner light, reflecting Chicago’s collective humanity.

    Ajeet Singh’s welcome address thanked Mayor Johnson for leading four consecutive Diwali events at City Hall, each surpassing the last in excellence. Ajeet Singh added the Indian American community is forever indebted for your generosity in hosting Diwali festivities.

    Keerthi Kumar Ravoori, Chair of the Indian American Business Council, closed by thanking the mayor for utilizing City Hall’s quadrangle for this grand reception and thanked the Mayor and Consul General of India for exemplifying the spirit of Diwali.

    Ajanta Chakraborty excelled as emcee, commended for her energetic poise and articulate command. Ajanta Chakraborty received glowing appreciation for her role as the emcee.

    (Photographs and Press release by Asian Media USA)

    Mayor Johnson was presented a bust of the Buddha

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  • The Indian American Medical Association, Illinois Commemorates 44th Anniversary with a Vibrant Gala

    The Indian American Medical Association, Illinois Commemorates 44th Anniversary with a Vibrant Gala

    CHICAGO, IL (TIP):  The Indian American Medical Association, Illinois (IAMA-IL) marked 44 years with a fundraising gala that featured a cocktail reception, a vendor expo, an awards presentation, a dinner, and musical performances on December 07,2024 at the Matrix Club in Naperville. The event was a grand success, bringing together leaders, influencers, and community members.

    IAMA-IL President Radhika Chimata, MD, organized a splendid gala that included speeches from Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, U.S. Representative for Illinois’s 8th Congressional District, and Indian Consul General Somnath Ghosh. She also shared her vision for the upcoming year as the Board of Directors chair. Her objectives include continuing significant fundraising initiatives, establishing a comprehensive database of physician mentors for medical trainees, and boosting IAMA-IL membership among second- and third-generation Americans.

    Honorees during the awards presentation included Ashok Fulambarker, MD, recipient of the Distinguished Physician Award; Samir Shah, MD, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award; and Archana Chatterjee, MD, honored with the Dr. Usha Rani Nimmagadda Woman Physician Leadership Award. Rajeev Kumar, MD, Terence Chiramel, MD, and Utpal Parekh, MD, were acknowledged for their contributions to IAMA-IL and our communities.

    Advocate Health CEO Dia Nichols provided the keynote speech and participated in a fireside discussion alongside President Chimata, Sreenivas Reddy, MD, and Shruti Nathan from Advocate Health. The conversation addressed contemporary challenges faced by physicians, including reimbursement rates.

    We express our gratitude to our Distinguished Guests, including Gerard Moorer, Deputy Chief of Staff to Congressman Danny Davis, U.S. Representative from Illinois’s 7th Congressional District, Tara Stamps, Cook County Board Commissioner for the 1st District, and Harry Benton, Illinois House Representative for District 97.

    The Ghungroo Bollywood dance troupe captivated the audience with their elegant performances and stunning attire. We appreciate the talent of director Sridevi Pandalai. Biju Zacharia’s artistic vision shone through the gorgeous audio-visual presentation, which complemented the eloquent emceeing by Shana Mohan perfectly. During dinner, Radhika delivered an incredible unplugged performance, accompanied by guitarist Vikas Deo, and concluded the event with an electrifying concert supported by Orchestra Saregama.

    Before the entertainment got everyone dancing the night away, IAMA welcomed their new President, Dr. Dilip Shah, and the 2025 executive committee as they assumed their roles for IAMA-IL’s 45th year.

    The celebration was made possible with the backing of the Grand Sponsor, Wealth Planning Network of Oak Brook, IL, and gold sponsors Orchard Corporation and Neelyx. All attendees received a lovely keepsake provided by Tanishq of Naperville.

    About Indian American Medical Association, Illinois

    The Indian American Medical Association, Illinois (IAMA-IL) is a non-profit organization comprised of Illinois physicians, fellows, residents, and medical students of Indian origin who are committed to professional excellence and quality patient care.

    (Photograph and Press release by Asian Media USA)

  • Malabar Gold & Diamonds Launches its 350th Global Showroom at Naperville, Illinois in the USA

    Malabar Gold & Diamonds Launches its 350th Global Showroom at Naperville, Illinois in the USA

    CHICAGO, IL (TIP): Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the 6th largest jewelry retailer globally with an annual turnover of USD 6.2 billion and retail presence of 350 showrooms across 13 countries, has just unveiled its 4th showroom in the USA at Naperville, Illinois. This brings the global jewelry brand’s showroom count globally to 350, with 5 showrooms in North America. Malabar Gold & Diamonds currently has an extensive retail presence across the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, India, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, KSA, Malaysia & Singapore.

    The new showroom was inaugurated by HE. Somnath Ghosh, Consul General of India in Chicago in the presence of Mr. Shamlal Ahamed, MD-International Operations, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Mr. Rakesh Patel of Patel brothers, Mr. Joseph Eapen, President of North America operations of Malabar Gold & Diamonds, community leaders, representatives from government and other authorities, management team members from Malabar Gold & Diamonds, customers and well-wishers.

    “The launch of Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ 350th Global showroom in the USA is a proud occasion for us as it signifies the growing footprint of our brand in the international jewelry arena. Located in the city of Naperville, this showroom will undoubtedly bring the best of what we have to offer in terms of both jewelry & experience. Our unwavering commitment to offering every customer complete transparency and an exceptional jewelry shopping experience has propelled us to being one of the most preferred jewelry retailers in the USA and all the other regions in which we operate. On behalf of Malabar Group, I would like to convey my sincere gratitude to all our customers, management team members, shareholders and other stakeholders for their contributions in making this occasion truly significant.”, commented the Chairman of Malabar Group, M.P Ahammed.

    Located at Patel Plaza in Naperville and spread across 6,400+ sq. ft, the new outlet houses over 30,000 designs across 25 exclusive brands and collections in gold, diamond & precious gem jewelry. The new store will also showcase an extensive collection of bridal jewelry, alongside a wide range of options for occasional wear, daily wear & office wear. The other 3 showrooms of Malabar Gold & Diamonds are in Chicago, New Jersey & Dallas.

    “The USA is one of the largest jewelry markets in the world in terms of both buying power and population, and I am very excited to launch our 4th showroom in the country. The large segment of the Indian subcontinental diaspora in the USA is an opportunity for us to expand our offerings to a base of consumers who truly appreciate the artistry of Indian jewelry. Our future initiatives in North America include expansion into Los Angeles, Atlanta, San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, Tampa & Virginia in the USA and in Canada, we have plans covering British Columbia & Alberta”, commented Mr. Shamlal Ahamed, MD-International Operations, Malabar Gold & Diamonds.

    Offering an exclusive jewelry shopping experience to the plethora of jewelry lovers in Illinois, the new showroom is equipped with a customized jewelry designing facility, presenting customers with the option to design their own jewelry with the assistance of Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ expert designers and craftsmen.

    Mr. Abdul Salam K.P, Vice Chairman of Malabar Group, commented: “With 5 showrooms in the region, Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ success in North America speaks volumes about the growing demand for Indian-made jewelry in the western hemisphere. Aligning with the motto of ‘Make in India; Market to the world’, the heights to which our brand has grown in the international jewelry arena is perfectly encapsulated by Malabar Gold & Diamonds being the highest-ranked Indian jewelry retailer in the Global Powers of Luxury Goods 2023 report published by Deloitte recently”.

    In pursuit of promoting India’s renowned indigenous craftsmanship on a global scale, Malabar Gold & Diamonds has embarked on an ambitious expansion plan, which involves strengthening their retail presence in existing regions with more showroom launches, as well as charting their expansion into new countries such as South Africa, Egypt, Bangladesh, Turkey and New Zealand.

    “While Malabar Gold & Diamonds is making great strides in the international jewelry sector, our operations in India, which remains our biggest market, is going forward with equal momentum. Our prestigious position in the Indian jewelry market is poised to be strengthened further by our planned expansion within existing states of operation as well as into states such as Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Goa, Assam, Tripura, and Jammu & Kashmir”, commented Mr. Asher O, India Operations, Malabar Gold & Diamonds.

    Malabar Gold & Diamonds is renowned globally for offering an unparalleled jewelry buying experience with convenience and customer-friendly policies along with the ‘Malabar Promise’ of incomparable quality and service assurance. Apart from this, the Malabar Promise also includes transparent pricing, assured lifetime maintenance from any of the showrooms across 13 countries, guaranteed buyback, tested and certified diamonds, 100% value on diamond and gold jewelry exchange, 916 hallmarked jewelry, responsible sourcing, fair price policy, and fair labor practices.

    ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) initiative has been the primary commitment of Malabar Group since its inception in 1993, with 5% of net profits set aside towards such initiatives in each country of operations. The key focus is in the areas of Health, Hunger Free World, Housing, Education, Women Empowerment & Environment. The ESG goals of the organization are periodically strengthened to remain a socially conscious and responsible organization.

    About Malabar Gold & Diamonds:

    Malabar Gold & Diamonds was established in 1993 and is the flagship company of Malabar Group, a leading diversified Indian business conglomerate.With an annual turnover of $6.2 billion, the company currently ranks as the 6th largest jewelry retailer globally and today has a strong retail network of over 350 outlets spread across 13 countries in addition to multiple offices, design centers, wholesale units, and factories spread across India, Middle East, Far East, the USA, the UK, Canada & Australia. The group, owned by more than 4,000 shareholders, has more than 21,000 professionals from over 26 countries working towards its continued success.Malabar Gold & Diamonds also features an online store www.malabargoldanddiamonds.com providing customers the opportunity to purchase their favorite jewelry at any time and on any day from the comfort of their homes.

    ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) has been the primary commitment of the group since its inception. The key ESG focus areas of Malabar Group are Health, Housing, Hunger Free World, Education, Environment and Women empowerment. Integrating the principles of responsibility and sustainability into its core business, Malabar Group periodically strengthens its ESG goals to remain a socially conscious and responsible organization. The group contributes 5% of its profit to such initiatives in the same country of operation.

    (Photographs by Asian Media USA / Press release by: Staff writer)

  • UCCA hosts Grand Musical Christmas Banquet in Chicago

    UCCA hosts Grand Musical Christmas Banquet in Chicago

    CHICAGO, IL (TIP):  A glittering evening replete with stirring melodious carols, dance presentations, inspiring remarks and uplifting yuletide sermonette marked the Grand Christmas Banquet celebrations organized by United Christian Cultural Association [UCCA] on Friday, December 16, 2022 at the Cotillion Banquet in Palatine, Illinois that drew a large gathering of families Illustrating the spirit of Christmas with interludes of beautiful strains of Christmas carols presented by Tollywood’s blockbuster music director Anup Reuben that elevated the festive merriment. This Grand Christmas celebration was strikingly enhanced by the presence of Ambassador Somnath Ghosh, Consul General of India who was joined by a host of community/business leaders representing all major faiths complemented by a large presence of families who converged to celebrate the grand pre-Christmas banquet.

    The evening encompassed mesmerizing musical performances presented by Tollywood’s blockbuster music director Anup Reuben and his ensemble who enthralled the guests with uplifting Christmas carols and musical hits. He presented a new genre of music, a fusion of the traditional Christmas songs transposed with upbeat melodies. Anup Reuben energized the entire evening with his zestful music and was later collectively honored and blessed by the clergy.

    The evening celebrations set off with the inter-faith lighting of the Christmas Candles led by Ambassador Somnath Ghosh, Consul General of India – who in his remarks – said

    Christmas festival manifests joy, peace and fosters fellowship with each other in the spirit of goodwill and love. Ambassador Somnath Ghosh outlined the history and applauded the role of Christians in contributing to help build modern India.   Ambassador Somnath Ghosh expressed his profound appreciation to the UCCA leaders for inviting him to the Christmas celebration program and complimented them for hosting such a grand festivity.

    Dr. Heyer Devarapalli, Founder Chair of UCCA welcomed the gathering and said UCCA has been in the forefront taking initiatives in hosting medical camps, charitable drives and other humanitarian work to help fellow human beings  – which he said represents the spirit of Christmas and Christianity. Dr. Paul Heyer Devarapalli acknowledged and thanked the fellow board and directors for their unstinted cooperation in hosting this grand Christmas banquet and showcasing the community’s strength of unity and its growing significance.

    Earlier, Keerthi Kumar Ravoori welcomed the gathering and introduced the chief guest Ambassador Somnath Ghosh, Consul General of India and later joined by UCCA leaders honored the ambassador by presenting a silk shawl and flower bouquet by UCCA’s women leaders.

    Raju Enoch Pasumarthi, UCCA President thanked the gathering of the families by unitedly celebrating Christmas and added that UCCA is geared up to announce an exciting series of summer programs for the community. Emmanuel Neela, UCCA Vice President recognized some of the prominent telugu community leaders. While Vasanth Charles proposed a vote of thanks. Satish Dadepogu unveiled UCCA’s plans for hosting a summer cricket tournament in partnership with the Illinois Cricket Association. Pastor Zadda Chakravorthy delivered a Christmas sermonette. Youth presented a Christmas Nativity play directed by Deena Pasumarthi and performed by Tina Devarapallli and Sharon Dadepogu. Ms. Angel Varghese gave a special dance performance.

    The Christmas candlelight ceremony was led by Havilah Devarapalli, Margaret Charles, Saritha Pasumarthi, Ujwala Neela and Persis Dadepogu. The event was eloquently emceed by Margaret Charles. Several community leaders were acknowledged at the evening including Ajeet Singh, Madan Pamulpati, Sreenivas Bopanna, Nick Verma, Subbu Iyer, Mahesh Kakarla, Sheshu Reddy, Hemachandra, Ramakrishna Nuna, Naresh, Khurram Syed, Nageshwari Cherikonda, Malati Domaraju, Vijay Ravoori, Rahul Viratapu.

    In closing UCCA President Raju Pasumarthi honored, Chicago community’s pastors Rev. Dr. David Vidyasagar, Rajamani Gounu,  Mrs. Subhadra Vipparthi, Victor Omega, Mathew Vattiprolu, Zadda Chakravorthy and Madhukar Bushi.

    The evening celebrations concluded with the entire hall luminous with candlelights while singing the traditional carol “Silent Night” which was followed by the serving of the festive dinner.

    (Photograph by Asian Media USA ; Press release by Staff writer)