VHPA Car Rally in Chicago
In this season of piety, the Hindus in the Chicago area had the opportunity to participate in a unique devout experience. On Dec 23, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America’s Chicago chapter organized a one-of-a-kind car rally that covered 11 temples in the North and Northwest areas of Chicagoland. Participants in this car rally drove from one temple to the other, carrying icons of Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman, two greatly admired gods of the Hindu Dharma (religion), waters of the holy river Ganges, and Hindu scripture as tributes. The temples visited by the rally represented different religious orders and denominations within the fold of the Hindu faith. The rally intended to unite these temples and their congregations in the devotion that they all shared towards Lord Rama. The rally also invited these temples to support the new temple being inaugurated for Lord Rama in January, 2024, at Ayodhya, a city in Northern India. Hindus believe that Lord Vishnu who is one among their Trinity gods, incarnated as King Rama. Lord Rama is an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Rama was born in Ayodhya. He was such an exemplary man and righteous ruler that the story of his life, called the Ramayana, is one of the most revered scriptures in the Hindu faith. Lord Rama and Ramayana are venerated not only in India but also in Nepal, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries. Ayodhya, being the birthplace of Lord Rama, is a very holy place to Hindus akin to how Bethlehem is to Christians. Building a Rama temple in Ayodhya has been a cherished dream for Hindus for centuries.
A hundred cars participated in the car rally, which commenced at the Hanuman Mandir (temple) in Glenview, traversed through the villages of Long Grove, Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Bensenville, Itasca, Medinah and Glen Ellyn, and proceeded to finish at the exquisite BAPS Swami Narayan temple in Bartlett. The rally started with a prayer service in the Hanuman Mandir, followed by the playing of Dhol-Tasha (a combination of drum and percussion instruments) for an auspicious beginning of the rally. The cars were decorated with beautiful and colorful flags and as the caravan proceeded from village to village, it was a sight to behold.
The participants were filled with great fervor and devotion as they hopped from temple to temple. Some felt very fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in this historic and festive event. Some felt this to be a cathartic and spiritual experience. Some wanted to retake a deep dive into the faith they practiced. Some wanted to give a physical expression to the devoutness they felt. But the sentiments that pervaded all around were that of excitement, joy and anticipation for the upcoming Ram temple inauguration. The participants also wished that the exceptional characteristics that Lord Rama embodied such as righteousness, moral duty, empathy, humility, forgiveness and compassion continue to inspire the world as they have been doing for centuries in the past.