People visit the BAPS Hindu Temple in Bartlett and reflect over the annakut, or mountain of food, an offering of hundreds of vegetarian delicacies as the first meal of the Hindu New Year.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Visitors participate in an hourly prayer or arti, in front of the annakut, during the first day of Hindu New Year at BAPS Hindu Temple in Bartlett.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Visitors to BAPS Hindu Temple in Bartlett pass through and reflect over the annakut, or mountain of food, an offering of hundreds of vegetarian delicacies as the first meal of the Hindu New Year.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Visitors celebrate the annakut, or mountain of food, an offering of hundreds of vegetarian delicacies as the first meal of the Hindu New Year at BAPS Hindu Temple in Bartlett.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Asha Pandya of Oswego reflects over the annakut, or mountain of food, an offering of hundreds of vegetarian delicacies as the first meal of the Hindu New Year at BAPS Hindu Temple in Bartlett.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

From left, Dipika Patel of Chicago, Rohini Patel of Des Plaines and Sandhya Patel of Hanover Park reflect over the annakut, or mountain of food, an offering of hundreds of vegetarian delicacies. as the first meal of the Hindu New Year at BAPS Hindu Temple in Bartlett.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Sadhu Vivekmurtidas greets Greg Skolrood of Rockford, and other visitors to the first day of the Hindu New Year celebration at BAPS Hindu Temple in Bartlett.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer