Press Release

PCS Press Release: Nov. 26, 2007
Contact: Rajinder Singh Mago 630-440-7730

PCS CHICAGO PARTICIPATES IN THE 74th McDONALD’s THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE ON STATE STREET IN CHICAGO

 

CHICAGO: The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS) kept up it’s tradition of enthusiastically participating in the 74th McDonald's Thanksgiving parade held on the Thanksgiving Day Thursday November 22, 2007 on State Street downtown Chicago despite a freezing weather.

Celebrating its 74th year, the McDonald's® Thanksgiving Parade is Chicago's premier holiday event. PCS was a part of more than 100 spectacular contingents proudly marching the parade route North on State Street from Congress to Randolph Street.

"It's our fourth year in a row participating in this parade, it gives our Indian community a great exposure in the mainstream," said PCS President Amarjit Kaur Atwal.  See Previous event pictures from 2006 | 2005 | 2004.

The parade was televised live on WGN Channel 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. More than 1.5 million viewers were expected to have watched.

"The theme of the PCS float sponsored by Mutual Bank this year, and it's contingent was an Indian/Punjabi/Sikh wedding party (Baraat), which included the Punjabi Dhol, Bhangra music and dance," said Mohinderjit Singh Saini the PCS parade coordinator. http://www.chicagofestivals.org/jpg/2005Photo/Specialty%20Units/enlarge/big9.jpg

“Youth Bhangra & Gidha troupes “Shaan Punjab Dee”, & "Gidhey Dia Raania" showcased world famous Punjabi folk dance "Bhangra" said Sunny Kular, member board of governors of Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago.

“Kevindeep Atwal, Sunny Sekhon, and Ryan Singh played Punjabi Dhol (drum) to keep the audiences involved and warmed up in the 18 degree F wind chill weather" said Ronny Kular, Vice President of PCS Chicago.

“Overall it was a great exposure of our community in the mainstream, we were on major TV channel, we need to keep it up and do more,” said Rajinder Singh Mago co-founder of P.C.S..

Over 350,000 spectators cheered on the parade in person on the street while an estimated 1.5 million at-home viewers watched on TV the PCS float, gigantic helium balloons, marching school bands, majestic equestrian units, fabulous specialty floats, spectacular performance groups, national celebrities and local personalities. 

Sher-A-Punjab restaurants provided complimentary lunch to the P.C.S. participants.

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

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
www.PCSChicago.org

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2006 | 2005 | 2004