PCS Press Release:
Contact: Rajinder Singh Mago 630-440-7730

PCS PARTICIPATES IN THE 73RD THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE ON STATE STREET IN CHICAGO

CHICAGO: The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS) participated with a decorated float and a bhangra dance marching unit in the 73rd McDonald's Thanksgiving parade held on the Thanksgiving Day on State Street downtown Chicago.

"It's our third year in a row participating in this parade, it gives our Indian community a great exposure in the American mainstream," said PCS Vice President Amarjit Kaur Atwal. [2005 | 2004]

"The theme of the PCS float and it's contingent was a Punjabi Indian wedding, which included a bride, the groom, and bhangra dancers on the well decorated float, and the wedding party (Baraat), the Punjabi Dhol, music and more bhangra dancers in the marching unit," said Mohinderjit Singh Saini the PCS parade coordinator.

Celebrating its 73rd year, the McDonald's® Thanksgiving Parade is Chicago's premier holiday event. PCS was part of more than 100 spectacular contingents from Chicago and around the country, proudly marching the parade route North on State Street from Congress to Randolph Street.

This year parade-goers got a nice surprise -- a sunny day with mild temperatures compared to the last year’s freezing whether. The parade was truly family friendly with comfortable temperatures and attractions for young and old.

Over 350,000 spectators cheered the parade on the street while 1.5 million at-home viewers watched on TV the PCS float, gigantic helium balloons, marching bands, majestic equestrian units, fabulous specialty floats, spectacular performance groups, national celebrities and local personalities. The parade was broadcast live on ABC channel 7 in Chicago from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and also rebroadcast on ABC 7; December 3, 2006 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and December 24, 2006 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Chicago Festival Association (CFA), a unique and exciting nonprofit organization in the city of Chicago, produced this McDonald's® Thanksgiving Parade.

The P.C.S participation was organized by Mohinderjit Singh Saini, Thakar Singh Basati, Rajinder Singh Mago, Sukhmel Singh Atwal, Sunny Kular, Ronny Kular, Amarjit Kaur Atwal, and Parminder Singh. Kevindeep Singh Atwal & Sukhi Singh Basati played the Punjabi dhol. Mr. & Mrs. Jolly Singh were the wedding couple.

"Shaan Punjab Di" bhangra group included Jakaran S. Saini, Anoop Takhar, Sumeet Singh, Rai Barinder Singh and Pooshan Kapil.

Others participants included Harleen Saini, Nishu Kaur, Jeevanjot Saini, Karman Singh, Puneet Singh, Pete Singh, Jaspaul Saini, Arvind Gakhal and Kamal Singh.

Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (P.C.S.) is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization promoting education, good citizenship, community development, civic commitment and involvement, and preserving Punjabi Culture, language, sports and performing arts among its community members and also mainstream Americans in the Midwest and beyond. PCS caters to this need both by directly organizing events that bring community members together from all over the Midwest Region and by facilitating participation of its community members in mainstream activities.

Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago P. O. Box 1244, Palatine, IL. 60078 (847) 359-5PCS, Fax# (847) 359-1107 e-mail info@PCSChicago.org web www.PCSChicago.org