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P.C.S. News Release: April 16, 2001
Contact: Rajinder Singh Mago 708-865-3031 - Work; 630-377-5893 - Home
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CHICAGO: The Punjabi community of metropolitan Chicago celebrated the Vaisakhi festival on a grand scale, at Gateway Theater in Chicago on Saturday April 14, 2001. More than 2,000 attended the P.C.S.'s annual "Rangla Punjab 2001" show, where more than 200 local artists performed their best on the stage. Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago's veteran organizers put together a colorful Punjabi cultural program superbly sequenced with traditional Punjabi dances Bhangra, Gidha, songs and hilarious comedy skits. The mayor of Palatine Illinois, Ms. Rita Mullins inaugurated the show. The messages of greetings came pouring in from the Governors of Illinois and Wisconsin, Mayor Daley of Chicago, and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. Representatives of Illinois State treasurer Judy Baar Topinka and Attorney General James Ryan attended the show and brought in messages of congratulations despite the Easter holiday long weekend. Raj Judge of Matrix Packaging Inc. was the chief guest and Sukhdev Singh Multani, of U.S. Petro Mart Inc., who is also the P.C.S. chairman, was the platinum sponsor of the event. "It was an opportunity for me and my husband to experience the wonderful traditions of the Punjabi culture. I loved the rhythms of the dances, the music, and the colorful costumes. I couldn't understand the words in the skits, but the acting was hilarious, and I thoroughly enjoyed the program," said Rita Mullins, the Palatine mayor.
The annual P.C.S. Scholarship sponsored by Dr. Surjit Singh Patheja and
Dr.
Sandeep Khosla and coordinated by Jaswinder Sapal, was won by Sonia Lally,
a participant at Rangla Punjab, who is also a top grade student with plans
to study medicine. Scholarship was presented to her by Major Gurcharan Singh Jhaj of Punjab Auto Works .
"The cultural celebration of the Vaisakhi festival is common to all
Punjabis, but it has a special religious significance to Sikhs because the Khalsa
order was ordained on Vaisakhi day in 1699. This year in 2001 the Vaisakhi day
has a special significance. It also happens to be the 200th anniversary of
coronation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh King who kept the Afgan
invaders in check and ruled the greater Punjab with religious tolerance
and
compassion for almost forty years, " said Rajinder Singh Mago, one of the
organizers.
A booth for blood test to find a match for bone marrow donation was also set up at "Rangla Punjab" show venue . |
P.C.S. Senior Vice President Bhagwant Singh Sandhu coordinated the opening
and retired principal Sarwan Singh of Government College; Kapurthala Punjab welcomed the guests and spoke about the spirit of Vaisakhi. Rajinder Singh Mago, Jasjit Kaur Sangha, radio show host Manjit Gill, TV show Fulkari host Dr. Harjinder Singh Khaira, Mohinderjit Singh Saini, and Jatinder Kaur (Tinku) hosted the four segments of the program. "Khatian Mithian," presented by Jasvir Singh Gill of California, "Rishtey hi Rishtey," by Jassi Parmar and group, "Bhand," by Happy Mauji and M. Gill, hilarious skits kept the audience rolling in their seats with laughter. More than 33 wonderful items, including glittering and fabulously coordinated Gidha and Bhangra, several Punjabi songs, hilarious skits, and many laser fast group dances were presented. The performers included well known artists, Jasvir Singh Gill of California, Sital Chaudhary, Dr. Harjinder Khaira , Dr. Madhu Arya, Pammi Gill, Jassi Parmar, Dara Singh, Mohinderjit Singh Saini, Uma Setia, and Jagmeet Singh. Chandrakant Williamson, Mohammad Ali and their orchestra provided the music. The program was also sponsored by Met Life Financial Services, Buehler YMCA, Punjab Auto Works/ A-1 Carpets, Dr. Robert Singh, Vitha Jewellers, Dr. Sandeep Khosla, Crown Trophy, Sher-A-Punjab restaurant. Thakar Singh Basati, past president, recognized the sponsors . Mr. Onkar Singh Sangha, Finance Secretary introduced the PCS board of
directors. President Harwinder Paul Singh Lail thanked the audience,
participants, volunteers, sponsors and his organizing team. He also outlined
the P.C.S. programs and invited everyone to P.C.S. Sports Festival in summer
and P.C.S. Night in late fall.
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