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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know Hanuman Mandir Of Greater Chicago Honors “Didi Maa” Sadhvi Ritambhara Ji Minal Desai Sworn In For 2nd Term As Skokie Village Clerk O n Monday, April 21, 2025 , Minal Desai took the oath of office for the second time as Village Clerk of Skokie following her decisive election victory earlier this month. A longtime community leader and banking professional, Desai brings years of public service PHOTO: @minalforclerk.com , business experience, and civic leadership to the role. Desai was initially appointed Village Clerk in 2024 to complete the term of re- tiring Clerk Pramod Shah. Her successful election on April 1, 2025, against challeng- ers Naema Abraham and James Johnson, demonstrates the strong support she enjoys across the Skokie community. “I am honored and humbled to con- tinue serving the residents of Skokie,” said Desai during the swearing-in ceremony. “My focus remains on making the Clerk’s Office more accessible, efficient, and inclusive for every member of our diverse community.” As Village Clerk, Desai oversees voter registration, elections coordination, pub- lic records management, and citizen as- sistance programs. She plans to modern- ize digital services, expand multilingual outreach, and introduce mobile Clerk’s Office events to better meet the needs of Skokie’s residents. A Skokie resident for over 20 years, Desai previously served as Vice President at Diamond Bank and was elected as the first South Asian Commissioner of the Skokie Park District Board in 2019. Fluent in five languages, she is deeply committed to ensuring all residents feel connected to their local government. “My goal is to bring greater transpar- ency, accountability, and community engagement to the Village Clerk’s Office,” Desai said. “Skokie is a model of diversity and opportunity, and I am proud to serve its people.” By Bhailal M. Patel T he Hanuman Mandir of Greater Chicago in Glenview held a felici- tation ceremony honoring Padma Bhushan awardee “Didi Maa” Sadhvi Ritambhara Ji on Saturday, April 19, 2025. The event, held in Glen- view, IL, and honored Didi Maa’s “extraor- dinary four decades of contributions to social upliftment, women’s empower- ment, child welfare, and her pivotal role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.” The ceremony was attended by hun- dreds of devotees and community leaders from across Greater Chicago, including representatives frommore than 20 Hindu temples and organizations. Special guests included Vinod Gautam from the Consul- ate General of India Chicago, Dr. Bharat Barai. Didi Maa’s heartfelt message empha- sized the strength of a united Sanatan Dharma community worldwide, urging Indian diaspora members to serve as cultural ambassadors. She highlighted her latest initiative, Shree Sarvaman- gala Peetham at Vatsalya Gram, Vrinda- van—an ambitious project dedicated to preserving India’s rich spiritual heritage while promoting women’s empowerment and social harmony. During her Chicago visit from April 17– 23, 2025, Didi Maa conducted a five-day Ram Katha at Hanuman Mandir, telling stories from the Ramayana and delivering messages of compassion, courage, and service. She also visited several temples including Chicago Kalibari Mandir, Shree JalaramMandir, Hari Sumiran Mandir, BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, and Sri Upasana, among others. At every stop, she spoke of her spiritual vision to eager audiences. A special tribute was made to Didi Maa’s groundbreaking initiative, Vatsalya Gram, a community model providing holistic care—including shelter, educa- tion, and healthcare—to abandoned and underprivileged children. With seven thriving campuses across India, Vatsalya Gram stands as a living testament to her mission of building families rooted in love, respect, and tradition. The Param Shakti Peeth of America Foundation (PSPA), the event’s supporting organization, continues to further Didi Maa’s mission across four pillars: Health (Swasthya), Service (Seva), Culture, and Education. PSPA’s efforts span from wom- en’s skill development to disaster response and spiritual wellness, reinforcing its role as a catalyst for transformative change. Participating 0rganizations and lead- ers included:Manav Seva Mandir – Dr. Bharat Barai, Dr. Ishwar Patel,Hari Om Mandir:VipinWadhera,VHPA & Gayatri Mandir:Harendra Mangrola,Hari Sumi- ran Mandir:Himanshu Sheth, Govind Sapovadia,JalaramMandir: Bhupendra Thakkar, Rajendra Thakkar.BAPS Swami- narayan Mandir:Dr. Hitesh Patel, Pratyush Patel, Bhaminiben Patel,Indian Seniors of Chicago:Kantibhai Patel, Hemant Modi,Divine Hindu Parivar:Chetan Patel, Chirag Patel,Sri Upasana:Suryakant and Smita Khapekar,Bharatiya Senior Citizens of Chicago:Haribhai Patel,Shree Sanatan Sewa Foundation:Hemant Patel,HSS – Shreedhar Damle,Hindu Women’s Network :Yash Desai, Sushma Patel,FIA Chicago:Nitin Patel,Dr. Rashmi Patel, ParikhWorldwide Media:Bhailal M. Patel,Overseas Friends of BJP:Amar Upad- hyay, Rohit Joshi, And many others. The event also paid tribute to key contributors and volunteers made the Ram Katha and Felicitation Ceremony a success, including Veer Sharma,Shipla Sharma,Ramji Patel , Rohit Joshi, Amar Upadhyay, Rajendra Thakkar, Arvind Ankleshwariya, Yashaswini Desai. The community bid farewell to Didi Maa and her team—Mahapadmalesh- war Satpriya Di, Sanjay Bhaiya Ji, Sadhvi Satpriya Di, Master Ji, and Amit Bhaiya Ji — vowing to continue spreading her teachings of love, service, and unity. By Bhailal M. Patel Minal Desai PHOTO:@minalforclerk.com PHOTOS:Courtesy J K At Vyash Pith, Lf to Rt.:“Didi Maa” Sadhvi Ritambhara Ji, Veer Sharma, Dr Bharat Barai, Prist and Mahapadmaleshwar Satpriya Di. A dance performance for invited guests and devotees at the ceremony honoring Padma Bhushan recipient “Didi Maa” Sadhvi Ritambhara Ji. Opening cerymony: Lf to Rt; Dr.Bharat Barai, Shipla Sharma,Mahapadmaleshwar Satpriya Di, Ramji Patel, Shri Vinod Gautam Ji from the Consulate General of India,Veer Shama. Community News India Times (May 3, 2025 - May 9, 2025) May 9, 2025 7