KOA Chicago Camp 2025: A Celebration of Culture, Community, and Connection

KOA Admin
5 days ago
5 min read

Updated: 19 hours ago

Chicago, IL | July 3–6, 2025

As the sun sets on another memorable KOA Annual Camp, we are filled with immense gratitude and joy. Held over the long weekend from July 3rd to 6th, this year’s camp brought together hundreds of Kashmiri Pandit families from across the United States to celebrate our shared heritage, forge deeper connections, and chart a future full of hope and unity.

A Vibrant Start: Day 1 (Thursday, July 3rd)

The camp kicked off in true KP spirit - with warm smiles, comforting tea, and heartfelt hugs as families checked in. The soulful inauguration evening set a spiritual tone, featuring a traditional lamp lighting ceremony, Ganesh bhajans performed by children, a heartfelt welcome skit, and community bhajans that brought everyone together in devotion and joy. The children's performances was truly heartwarming, their enthusiasm brought a special charm to the event.

The KOA Board and Executive Team were honored guests at the lamp lighting ceremony, symbolizing the auspicious beginning of the camp. Participating in the ceremony were KOA President Uphaar Kotru, KOA Secretary Amit Raina, Director of Zone 7 hosting the camp Urvashi Kaw, along with Virender Hak (Zone 1 Director), Prerna Tikku (Zone 3 Director), Ravi Raina (Zone 6 Director), and Shivas Dhar (Zone 8 Director).

The energy only grew from there, with an electrifying Chakri performance by the Chicago and Ohio teams bringing nostalgia to all.

Inspiration, Reflection, and Engagement: Day 2 (Friday, July 4th)

Friday began with wellness and mindfulness—morning walk, meditation, and strength training followed by a powerful keynote by Shri Sushil Pandit, who inspired us to remain rooted in our values and continue our fight for justice.

Two insightful panel discussions in the morning included:

Preservation of our Culture & Legacy, co-moderated by Amit Raina & Rohit Raina, featuring Dr. Surinder Kaul, Dr. Advaitavadini Kaul and Shri Utpal Kaul.
CXOs Leading the Way, a dynamic session with Abhi Dhar, Pinky Raina, Mukesh Davit, and Rahul Jalali, moderated by Anshu Raina.

The day also included:

An enlightening workshop on College Applications by Aarav Raina and team
Youth fitness session
Kids art competition
Pickleball tournament, mehndi, face painting, and more
Heritage Committee presentation by Vijay Dhar

We were honored to welcome Chicago Consul General Mr. Somnath Ghosh and his wife, who graciously attended the event and addressed the community with words of encouragement, solidarity, and admiration for the Kashmiri Pandit diaspora’s resilience.

The surprise moment of the day was the exclusive first look trailer of The Bengal Files, followed by a live Zoom address by filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, who spoke directly to our community about the role of truth, history, and cinema in national healing. His heartfelt message deeply resonated with the audience and added a powerful dimension to the day’s theme of cultural preservation and identity.

A special highlight was the Hemath presentation, where Dr. Shakun Malik and her team showcased their impactful work in women empowerment through skill building, entrepreneurship, and mentorship, inspiring the community with their mission and progress. This year’s KOA Camp souvenir was lovingly handcrafted by KP women supported by Hemath. They also showcased a beautiful selection of merchandise at the camp, all produced by these talented women, highlighting their creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit.

KOA President Uphaar Kotru addressed the community, sharing important updates on ongoing initiatives and exciting upcoming launches—including the Patient Navigation Service by the KOA Healthcare Network, aimed at supporting visiting parents and facilitating second opinions. He made a heartfelt appeal for continued support through volunteering and sponsorships.

Among the key programs he highlighted were:

Support a Child (K–12 education)
Education Assistance Program (college tuition support)
Medical Emergency Aid
Family Sustenance Program
Youth Program
Heritage Preservation—including support for the historic Pokhribal and Roopbhawani temples in Kashmir

He emphasized that becoming a KOA member is not only essential to strengthening the organization’s ability to deliver these impactful programs, but also a powerful way to show that you care—and to honor the tireless dedication of KOA’s volunteers.

Evening highlights included a heartfelt Awards and Recognition Ceremony, Cultural Night & Talent Show, a raffle sponsored by ZAAN Travels, and an electric DJ night that kept everyone dancing well past bedtime. Dhananjay Raina emerged as a surprise singing sensation, captivating the community with his remarkable talent.

Explore, Reflect, Celebrate: Day 3 (Saturday, July 5th)

Saturday offered exciting options for participants:

A visit to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
A Chicago Downtown/Navy Pier excursion
A Spring Valley nature walk and kids camp
Games and GupShup at the camp venue

Later in the day we had a deeply inspiring talk by Rattan Khosa, who shared his journey of overcoming adversity. The ever-popular ice cream truck kept everyone cool!

Another proud moment was the announcement of the KHOSA Scholarship—a transformative initiative launched in partnership with philanthropist Rattan L. Khosa to support and encourage meritorious Kashmiri Pandit students in the U.S.

The evening featured mesmerizing Santoor-Tabla concert featuring Madan Oak, an exceptionally gifted Santoor player trained under Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, and Hindole Majumdar, a Tabla maestro. Their soulful performance left a profound and lasting impression on all who attended.

A special celebration marked the 10-year anniversary of KOA Youth hosted by KOA Youth Director Sidhi Raina, a milestone that reflects a decade of empowering the next generation of Kashmiri Pandits. KOA Youth has grown into a vibrant platform for leadership, cultural pride, and community service. The anniversary honored past and present youth leaders, celebrated their contributions, and reaffirmed KOA’s commitment to nurturing young voices for a stronger future.

A hilarious Koshur Banega Crorepati (KBC) skit had the audience in splits, combining witty dialogue, sharp improvisation, and spot-on mimicry. The featured artists Abhinav Raina and Suresh Pandita cleverly wove in community humor and cultural references, making it a memorable highlight of the evening. The light-hearted parody not only entertained but also showcased the incredible creative talent within our community.

The night concluded with a soul-stirring musical finale featuring the incredibly talented artists Vunshi Saproo and Bulbul Khoda. Their captivating vocals and rich melodies brought the audience to their feet, creating an atmosphere of joy, nostalgia, and unity. Blending traditional Kashmiri tunes with contemporary flair, the performance was a beautiful tribute to our cultural roots—and the perfect ending to an unforgettable celebration.

Spiritual Closing: Day 4 (Sunday, July 6th)

We concluded with a Havan and Shiv Abhishek, followed by Aarti and Prasad. It was a serene and fitting end, allowing us to reflect and express gratitude as one community.

Thank You!

This camp would not have been possible without the extraordinary dedication of our core organizing team, led by Camp Commander Ashish Raina, and the collective efforts of countless volunteers, panelists, performers, and supporters.

A special shoutout to our incredible volunteer team:

Ashish & Jyotsna Raina, Sanjay & Namita Machama, Nitesh & Samvedna Bhat, Suresh & Suman Pandita, Abhinav & Bindu Raina, Rakesh & Sonika Tickoo, Asheesh & Tina Kaul, Govil & Roma Wangnoo, Soman & Promila Dhar, Anurag & Urvashi Kaw, Neha Sultan & Rakesh Mohan, Sid Koul, Basanti Wali, Gayatri & Shivani Chakoo, Raj Koul, Jyoti & Satish Bhat, Anshu Raina, Aarav Raina, Aparna & Abhi Dhar and so many others. whose time, heart, and tireless efforts made this celebration truly unforgettable.

Your unwavering commitment, creativity, and spirit of service made this celebration truly unforgettable. Thank you for going above and beyond!

We return home recharged, reconnected, and recommitted to our mission.

Here’s to KOA—Rooted in Legacy, Growing with Unity. We can’t wait to see you all at the next camp!