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Services & Programs
Everything the Trust offers, what it costs (almost always nothing), and how to take part.
Free of charge
Darshan, aarti, Sunday lunch, all classes and every festival evening. No tickets, no membership.
By arrangement
Private ceremonies and hall use, where we recover only the direct costs of materials and priest travel.
Languages spoken
English, Gujarati and Hindi. Translation help for letters and forms is available on request.
Accessibility
Step-free side entrance, accessible washroom, chairs at the rear of the shrine room, level parking.
Service 01
Daily darshan and aarti
The shrine room is open twice a day. Morning aarti is short and quiet, usually eight to fifteen people. Evening aarti is livelier, with singing, and often forty or more on a Friday. Both last about twenty minutes and both end with prasad.
| Monday – Friday | 08:00–11:30 and 17:00–20:30 · aarti 08:30 & 19:00 |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 08:00–21:00 · aarti 08:30 & 19:00 · classes 09:30–12:00 |
| Sunday | 08:00–21:00 · aarti 11:00 & 19:00 · community lunch 12:30 |
| Festival days | Extended hours, published on the events page |
Service 02
The Sunday community kitchen
Cooking starts at 09:00 and serving runs from 12:30 until the pots are empty, normally around 14:00. The menu is decided on Thursday by whoever is coordinating that week, and is always vegetarian, always without egg, and usually without onion or garlic. Nut-free and gluten-free portions are set aside on a separate table and labelled.
Nobody is asked why they came. We serve students, retired neighbours, families between paychecks, hospital visitors and people who simply like the dal. Around a hundred and thirty plates go out on an ordinary Sunday and rather more in December.
- Want to eat? Turn up at 12:30. There is no sign-up.
- Want to cook? Arrive at 09:00 any Sunday; you will be handed an apron and a knife.
- Want to donate ingredients? Rice, lentils, flour and cooking oil are always useful.
Service 03
Saturday language and music school
Two classrooms run in parallel every Saturday morning during term time. Teaching is done by parents and older students, and there are no fees of any kind — not for materials, not for the end-of-year concert, not for anything.
| 09:30–10:15 | Gujarati alphabet and reading — ages 5 to 8 |
|---|---|
| 10:15–11:00 | Gujarati & Hindi comprehension — ages 9 to 15 |
| 11:00–12:00 | Bhajan singing, harmonium and tabla — all ages, adults welcome |
| 12:00–12:30 | Shloka recitation and story hour — open session |
Two adults are present in every classroom at all times. Parents are welcome to stay and most do, in the corridor, drinking chai.
Service 04
Ceremonies and sanskars
We help families arrange the traditional rites at the mandir or at home. We do not charge for the space; where a visiting priest travels from Chicago or Indianapolis, families cover his travel and dakshina directly.
Namkaran & Annaprashan
Naming and first-feeding ceremonies, usually held on a weekday morning with close family. Allow about an hour.
Satyanarayan Katha
Held monthly on the full-moon weekend, and privately on request. Around two hours including prasad.
Griha Pravesh
House-blessing at your address. Give us two weeks' notice so a priest and two volunteers can be scheduled.
Engagement & wedding blessings
The hall seats around a hundred and ten. Weekend dates are usually taken six to nine months ahead.
Mundan & Janoi
Traditional childhood and thread ceremonies, arranged with the family's own priest if preferred.
Last rites & shraddha
We will help at any hour, and we will help with the practical arrangements too. Call the number below directly.
Service 05
Quiet, practical help
None of this is publicised, none of it is means-tested, and none of it is discussed outside the two or three volunteers involved.
Pantry shelf
Staples available discreetly to any local household. Ask for the kitchen coordinator.
Form & letter help
Assistance reading and completing English-language paperwork, and interpreting at appointments.
Transport
Volunteer drivers for hospital and clinic appointments in Pekin and Peoria, with notice.
Bereavement support
Practical help and company for families arranging funerals, and meals delivered for the first week.
We are volunteers, not professionals. We do not give legal, medical, immigration or financial advice, and we will always encourage you to speak to a qualified person as well.