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Volume 2018

Issue 6

Oct 2018

MY LOHANA NEWS

UNITY IS STRENGTH

www.mylohana.com

LCFT - Lohana Charitable Foundation of Toronto

Individual Highlights

Welcome Introduction - Page 2

Deepawali - Page 2

Laxmi & Chopda - Page 3 Pujan

Diwali Gala Dinner - Page 5 & Dance

Navratri Recap - Page 6

The Lohana Directory - Page 9

Laxmi Puja Steps - Page 10

Annual Sponsors - Page 11

Contact Us - Page 13

May the beauty of Diwali fill your world and your heart with joy and may the love that is always yours,

bring you endless happiness. Have A Wonderful Diwali And New Year!

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Dear Community Members, Namaste and welcome to our sixth edition of the LCFT newsletter.

We are in the midst of our Festive Season, celebrating Diwali,

the Festival of Lights, and all that is good in the World. We

welcome you to join us in our events, in meeting family and

friends, and making new ones. Don’t miss out, its going to be

lots of fun!

DEEPAWALI

Deepawali or Diwali is the biggest and the brightest of all Hindu

festivals. It is the festival of lights: deep means "light" and avali

"a row" to become "a row of lights." Diwali is marked by four days

of celebration, which literally illuminates the country with its

brilliance and dazzles people with its joy.

The Diwali festival occurs in late October or early November. It

falls on the 15th day of the Hindu month of Kartik, so it varies

every year. Each of the four days in the festival of Diwali is

marked with a different tradition. What remains constant is the

celebration of life, its enjoyment, and a sense of goodness.

Historically, Diwali can be traced back to ancient India. It most

likely began as an important harvest festival. However, there are

various legends pointing to the origin of Diwali.

Some believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi,

the goddess of wealth, with Lord Vishnu. Others use it as a

celebration of her birthday, as Lakshmi is said to have been born

on the new-moon day of Kartik.

Diwali also commemorates the return of Lord Rama (along with

Ma Sita and Lakshman) from his 14-year-long exile and

vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the

return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the capital of Rama,

illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and set off

firecrackers.

WELCOME INTRODUCTION

Meet & Greet at

These Events!

Laxmi & Chopda Pujan

November 7th (Wed) (Start the new Chapter with

Prayers for your business, work or education)

Diwali Gala Dinner & Dance November 10th (Sat)

(Celebrate a fun filled Festival of Lights)

New Year’s Eve Party December 31st (Mon)

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Date: Wednesday, November 7th, 2018

Time: 7:00pm arrivals to set up. 7:30pm Sharp – Puja will commence

Location: Avani Event Centre

Address: 8400 Jane St, Vaughan, ON, L4K 4L8

Dinner: Delicious meal catered by Avani Asian Indian Bistro will be served after the Puja.

Entry: Members - Free

Non-Members - $10 Per Person

** We strongly recommend those attending to register online to help us plan seating and

catering.

Come join us and begin your Diwali and New Year celebrations with the blessings of Maa Laxmiji and

Lord Ganesha. Diwali - the Festival of Lights is celebrated over Five days (Dhan Teras, Kali Chaudas,

Diwali, Bestu Varsh and Bhai Dooj). Laxmi Pujan is conducted on the Diwali day. Puja is offered to Maa

Laxmiji, Lord Ganesha and Lord Kuber. Through this puja devotees are blessed with Prosperity,

Wealth, Health and Longevity.

The Puja will be offered with Kishor Bhai Jani. Donations can be made by participants at the event.

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Who Can Participate in the Laxmi Pooja?

This Puja can be done by everyone, including business owners conducting Chopda Pujan,

employees and students.

We therefore warmly welcome everyone to

participate, including children, young families,

employees and business owners to come and

participate in the Puja and have your New Year

begin with blessings and continued success in a

colorful way!

Please arrive early to prepare your Puja at your

table.

What to prepare for the Puja:

• Ganesh & Laxmiji Murti

• Suko Maivo

• Prashad

• Coconut/Steel coconut holder (kadash)

• Fresh Flowers

• Rice

• Moong

• Ghee

• Kanku, Abil, Gula

• Bottled Water

• Agarbatti & holder

• Vaat for divo

• Aarti sani & Kapoor

• 2 Whole Fruits

• Thak, Luving, Elchee, Sakar

• Red pen & notebook

• Red Thread

• Coins

• Plates, Bowls, Spoons (steel if possible)

• Panchamrat (Sakar, Yogurt, Milk, Ghee, Honey)

• 2 Diyas

• Tulsi Paan

• Nagarvalna Paan

• Sopari

• Tissue & Matches

* The items needed are available from most Indian grocery stores – please contact Sharmil Mithia for

more information via email info@mylohana.com .

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Diwali Gala Dinner & Dance

ON A SATURDAY NIGHT - BY POPULAR DEMAND Buy Tickets Online LCFT welcomes you to an explosive night of Music & Masti. Join us this Diwali with Lohana Family and Friends to celebrate our very own amazing Festival of Lights in true Lohana style! The evening is on a Saturday night, at a new venue, and introduces Live Music, Celebrity Entertainment, Indian Dances, Finger-Licking Indian Vegetarian Cuisine, and a Fabulous World Class DJ to dance the night away!

• LAST CALL - Ticket sales will strictly close on October 31st, 2018 - so bring your family & friends and secure your seats today!

Date: Saturday, November 10th, 2018

Time: 6:00pm – Cocktail Hour

7:00pm (sharp) - Entertainment & Gala Evening Location: Avani Event Centre

Address: 8400 Jane St, Vaughan, ON L4K 4L8

Dinner: Delicious full course cuisine catered by Avani Asian Indian Bistro

Dress: Dress smart to impress!

Entry Fee: LCFT Annual Paid Members - $50 Per Person

Non-Members / Guests - $60 Per Person

Children under 12 - $25 Per Child

(Please appreciate that with increasing overheads and labor costs with suppliers, booking of a highly rated venue

on a Saturday night, provision of top-class entertainment, and an excellent full course dining experience, we have

tried our level best to keep the ticket costs affordable and subsidized while providing value – we welcome you to

join us).

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NAVRATRI – GARBA WITH DISCO DANDIYA- RECAP

On 20th October 2018, members of the Lohana Community with family & friends celebrated Navaratri

together at the Sharad Purnima Garba and Disco Dandiya. This year the music was provided by Kirit Bhai

Mistry of Goonjan Entertainment with a special half hour of Disco Dandiya by DJ Bhagirat.

LCFT also hosted a Mithai Competition this year which was well received and garnered a lot of entries.

Members & Friends got to prepare some very delicious home-made Mithai’s and congratulations to the

winners of the competition: -

Taste Category Winners (Seniors) Taste Category Winners (Juniors)

1st Prize- Dakshaben Jadav 1st Prize- Sanna Luthra

2nd Prize- Ramilaben Pelan 2nd Prize- Keval Mithia

Presentation Category Winners (Seniors) Presentation Category Winners (Juniors)

1st Prize- Truptiben Thakkar 1st Prize- Sanna Luthra

2nd Prize- Hastibalaben Badiani 2nd Prize- Zeal Thakkar

We would also like to thank the following for their contributions towards making this event a success:

❖ Our lead organizer for the event, Kajal Gadhia, who did a wonderful job in bringing everyone

together.

❖ A special thank you to the Garba Sub-committee & team of this event including Alka

Panchmatia, Deval Chandarana, Rashmi Kantaria, Sheetal Dave, Neesha Mithia, Kavita

Kara & Sejal Thakrar

❖ Anuben Devani, Dakshaben Shah, Bhavnaben Radia & Pritiben Thakrar for assisting with

the decoration

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❖ Our Judges Indiraben Somaia & Sunitaben Somaya for judging the Mithai Competition

❖ To all our participants for preparing and bringing delicious Mithai’s for the competition. You all are

winners!!

❖ Kiritbhai Mistry for providing the amazing music & Bhagirat Raichada for the Disco Dandiya

experience

❖ The Delicious food was catered by Jalsa Kitchen, who were also one of our annual sponsors

❖ Our Youth Volunteers led by Ronak Panchmatia & his team who assisted tremendously during

the Garba, also earned their volunteer hours for school.

❖ A warm Thank you to all LCFT members, and those of the Community that helped to set up in

the evening and during the Garba. Your help was priceless and very much appreciated!

❖ Thank you to Sanjay Dave for contributing his time in taking and editing the photos of the event

NAVRATRI – HIGHLIGHTS

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NAVRATRI- HIGHLIGHTS

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ANNUAL MEMBER’S MOBILE APP - DOWNLOAD IT TODAY!

Paid Annual Membership has its benefits. You can now have the Lohana Directory on the go, on your mobile phone. Are you on our Directory? To learn more, click the button below:

TO LEARN MORE – CLICK HERE

To become an annual member and pay your annual dues online, please click the button below:

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1. Purify your house. Clean your house properly. Sprinkle Gangajal or water to purify the surrounding

2. Set up the platform. Spread the red cloth on a raised platform and keep a handful of grains in the center

3. Place the kalash. Place the kalash in the middle. Fill it with 75% of water and put one Supari, one Flower, a Coin and some Rice Grains. Put 5 mango leaves in the kalash and arrange them in a circular design on the neck of the kalash

4. Place Goddess Lakshmi. Keep a small Puja thali on the kalash and make a small flat mountain of Rice

Grains. Draw a lotus with haldi over it and place the idol or Goddess Lakshmi in the center. Place some coins in front of it.

5. Place Lord Ganesha's idol. Lord Ganesha is given first importance in every puja. Therefore, on the right

side (South-West direction) of the kalash, place the idol of Ganesha. Apply a tilak of haldi and kumkum. Put some rice grains on the idol. Light a Diya with Ganapati Puja Oil and White Wick to get the blessings of Lord Ganesha

6. Place books/wealth related items. Now place some books or anything related to your business or

wealth besides the arrangement

7. Light Diya. Light a Panch Mukhi Diya (oil lamp with 5 wicks) with Lakshmi Puja Oil along with Lakshmi Grace Wick and place it in a thali along with some Haldi, Kumkum and Rice Grains. (sandalwood paste, saffron paste, abeer and gulal are optional)

8. Start the Puja/Aarti. Start the puja by applying tilak to the kalash. Apply the same to the lota that is filled

with water. Now offer some flowers to each of them

9. Recite Diwali Puja mantra. Take some rice and flowers. Join your hands together and close your eyes. Recite the Diwali Puja mantra of Goddess Lakshmi or just chant her name and meditate for few minutes to invoke her

10. Offer flower. Offer the flower and rice grains to the Goddess after the prayer

11. Bathe the idol of Lakshmi. Now pick up the idol of Lakshmi and place it in a thali. Bathe it with water

followed by Panchamrita. Clean it with water again. Wipe the idol and place it back on the kalash

12. Put the garland. Now apply Haldi and Kumkum (sandal paste, saffron paste, abeer or gulal) along with rice to the idol. Place the garland cotton beads around the neck of the Goddess. Place some marigold flower and some Bel leaves. Burn few Agarbatti and Dhoop.

13. Offer sweets & coconut. Offer coconut and place a Supari on a Supari leaf. Now put some Haldi,

Kumkum and Rice over it. Pour some puffed rice, coriander seeds and cumin seeds over the idol. Place some mithai, Diwali sweets, fruits and money or gold ornaments in front of it.

14. Perform Aarti. Worship the idol by performing the Lakshmi Puja Aarti

STEPS FOR LAXMI PUJA AT HOME

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A Big “Thank You” to our sponsors and donors for their support to the community

PLATINUM SPONSORS AND DONORS

❖ 1 x Anonymous, (Toronto, Canada)

GOLD SPONSORS AND DONORS

❖ ArcPro Media Inc., Ramesh & Meena, and the Kantaria Family, (Toronto, Canada, & London, England)

SILVER SPONSORS AND DONORS

❖ Shubhes Rameshcandra Adhya & Family, (Lisbon, Portugal)

❖ Huntington Travel, Kiran and Pravina Buddhev, (Toronto, Canada)

❖ Dhamecha Family, (London, England)

❖ Bipin and Bharti Kantaria & Family, (London, England)

❖ Jyotsna Manharlal Kantaria, Monica Jay Kantaria, Neel & Kareena Kantaria, (London, England)

❖ Madhu and Ila Lakhani, (Toronto, Canada)

❖ Amar & Anjana Popat. (Toronto, Canada)

❖ Nina Ramano Insurance Agency, (Toronto, Canada)

❖ Hardeep Rehal, Epic Health & Beauty, (Toronto, Canada)

❖ 3 x Anonymous, (Toronto, Canada)

ANNUAL SPONSORS

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BRONZE SPONSORS AND DONORS

❖ Ashit and Deval Chandarana & Family, (Toronto, Canada)

❖ Goonjan Entertainment & E-Motion Photography, Kirit Mistry

❖ Jalsa Kitchen, Rajesh Kataria, (Toronto, Canada)

❖ Mehul and Alka Panchmatia & Family, (Toronto, Canada)

❖ Arun & Rashmi Raja, (Toronto, Canada)

❖ Bhanu, Leena and Neil Raja, (Toronto, Canada)

❖ Remax All Stars, Chandrakant and Kokila Sachdev, Shretan Sachdev & Family, (Toronto, Canada)

❖ Grand Oaks Orthodontics, Dr. Mandeep & Rohini Sood, (Toronto, Canada)

❖ 4 x Anonymous, (Toronto, Canada)

MEDALLION SPONSORS AND DONORS

❖ Amar and Kajal Gadhia, (Toronto, Canada)

❖ Dinesh and Nita Jobanputra (Toronto, Canada)

❖ Bipin and Kinnari Lakhani (Toronto, Canada)

❖ Purvi Rajani (Toronto, Canada)

❖ Nima Rajani (Toronto, Canada)

❖ Kiran and Krupa Rajdev (Toronto, Canada)

❖ Narendra and Anjana Sachdev, (Toronto, Canada)

❖ Gujarati Foods, Viral Patel, (Toronto, Canada)

ANNUAL SPONSORS

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PO Box 927

Adelaide Post Station

Toronto, ON

M5C 2K3

CANADA

E-MAIL:

info@mylohana.com

WEBSITE:

www.mylohana.com

MEMBERSHIP & SPONSORSHIP CONTACTS: President Mitesh Kantaria T: 905-965-6869 Vice President Deval Chandarana T: 905-924-3060 Treasurer Sheetal Dave T: 416-818-8741 Secretary Kajal Gadhia T: 647-878-0978 Communications Sejal Thakrar Board Officer Alka Panchmatia Board Officer Amar Gadhia Board Officer Hetal Kara Board Officer Mehul Panchmatia Board Officer Sharmil Mithia

LOHANA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

OF TORONTO We’re on the Web!

See us at:

www.mylohana.com

Special thanks to Sanjay Dave for our Newsletter Photography, and to all our spouses and children for their continued support and

seva.

For comments and articles, please contact our Newsletter Editors,

Amar Gadhia or Mitesh Kantaria

LOHANA CANADA

@LOHANACANADA