El Do Shiv Mandir shows appreciation to devotees

Shivannand Maharaj trilled the devotees of the El Dorado Shiv Mandir (ESM) on February 5 at a special appreciation event organised by the manager, president and executive committee of ESM. The event took the format of Bhajan Aarpanam—offering of devotional songs along with dinner. Raj Jadoo, ESM’s manager and executive member SDMS, said in his address to the attendees, “The temple is thankful for your support. We, meaning the SDMS and the executive committee of the mandir, are thankful that Sri Ram Ji gave us this opportunity once again to bestow our appreciation to you as long standing devotees and friends of the temple.

“Too often people in society fail to show their appreciation, but we at the temple believe in thanking you, who render your seva or selfless duty, not for the temple because the temple is just a place of worship.
“You render your seva for your fellow brothers and sisters in society. With your support through the many socio-cultural projects, this temple executes annually to help the community and for that you deserve Dhanyabad,” noted manager Jadoo. Three recognition awards were given to special devotees: Rajdai Bissoondial, Ramdass Harrylal, and the Full Moon Katha Group, and were presented by Pt VInai Sharma, resident pandit ESM, who also echoed manager Jadoo’s sentiments of the devotees support. 

“The temple is 99 years old this year, and we could not have reached thus far without the dedicated support of the devotees, and I pray Sri Ram continue to bless you,” said Pundit Sharma. The highlight of the appreciation evening, however, was the sterling performance by talented Shivannand Maharaj, who had the devotees singing along with him. Accompanying Maharaj on the tabla was Charlie Soogrim. Moving from devotional bhajans, Maharaj rendered vocal and instrumental songs from famous Indian singers such as Lata and Mukesh, and from favourite movies like Nagin and Kabi Alvida Na Kehna.