Constable: Hindu convention celebrates Fourth with bagpipes

Nothing celebrates Independence Day like Indian-Americans wearing kilts and entertaining a divine leader by playing “God Bless America” on bagpipes adorned with miniature U.S. flags at a Hinduism convention in the suburbs.

“It's not the first thing that comes to mind, is it?” says Hersh Patel, 23, one of the bagpipers and the spokesman for this groundbreaking convention going on through Sunday in Streamwood and Bartlett. The convention, which is free, in English and open to the public, also features YouTube singing sensation Jeffrey Iqbal (the first American to be a finalist on “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa,” the “American Idol” of South Asian TV), a blood drive, cricket and other sports, great food, health demonstrations, education and career training, religious and charity workshops, and meetings with His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree Maharaj, “our pope,” says Patel, who went to a Catholic elementary school.

“It's historic,” says Bharat Patel, 37, who lives in Hoffman Estates, works at an American Family Insurance corporate office in Oak Brook, and serves as secretary of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Temple in Streamwood, the convention's host temple. About 1,500 people from across the country and around the world registered for the event, but walk-ins are encouraged.

The first North American Convention of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, a nonprofit, religious-cultural organization “humbly devoted to social welfare and community outreach,” kicked off Wednesday with an opening ceremony at the Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Temple, 1020 Bapa Road, Streamwood, which also will host a ceremony on Sunday.

The rest of the convention takes place at the Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago's community center, 435 N. Route 59, Bartlett. For information, a daily schedule or to register, visit swaminarayangadi.com/newjersey/convention2015 or phone (610) 909-9069.

Founded in the late 1700s in northern India, Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan established a U.S. headquarters in New Jersey in 2001. Its first expansion was through the temple in Streamwood, and the religious community now boasts 10 temples across the United States for 5,000 members, Hersh Patel says.

Hosting the continent's inaugural convention carries some pressure, admits Bharat Patel, who says organizers have been preparing for more than six months.

“Our message to the group was, ‘Hey, don't expect perfection. But we'll work to get better,'” he says.

While Hinduism dates 2,000 years before Christ and is one of the world's oldest religions, this “modern” sect of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan focuses on community service, education and a moral life that preaches nonviolence, respect and charity, Hersh Patel says. The group sponsors disaster relief teams, including one that responded to this year's earthquakes in Nepal.

The divine leader, considered a god, is referred to as “Bapa,” generally answers his cellphone and will meet with boys during this convention to answer questions about religion and life, says Hersh Patel. Since the leader and his Sants (monks) do not have contact with females, there are programs designed specifically for women, Hersh Patel adds. But the religion, and the convention, are open to all.

The Friday night concert features Iqbal and fellow Americans, percussionist Jomy George and clarinetist Shanker Tucker. On Independence Day, “convention participants will all pay tribute to the great country we call home,” Hersh Patel says. The Swamibapa Pipe Band began in 2003 after an earlier divine leader fell in love with bagpipes during a visit to England. Band members wear feathers sporting the colors of India's flag in their hats, and a miniature U.S. flag adorns each bagpipe.

“We're going to take a break from the convention to honor our homeland,” Hersh Patel says, noting one of the goals of the convention is for people to have fun. The bagpipe group, which plays in Memorial Day parades, for Sept. 11 observances and to mark U.S. and India holidays, knows how to have fun.

“We play traditional Indian tunes and ‘Scotland the Brave,'” says Tushar Patel, 22, another bagpiper from New Jersey. “We play ‘God Bless America' and will probably throw ‘Yankee Doodle' in there for fun. We also play ‘We Will Rock You.' That's one of our favorites.”