News Release

News Release: April 5, 2002
Contact: Rajinder Singh Mago (630) 377-5893 - H,  (708) 865-3031 - W

CHICAGO PUNJABI YOUTH SHINE AT VAISAKHI PROGRAM "RANGLA PUNJAB 2002"
PUNJABI CULTURAL SOCIETY OF CHICAGO SHOWCASES LOCAL TALENT

CHICAGO: The Punjabi community of metropolitan Chicago celebrated the Vaisakhi festival on a grand scale, at Gateway Theater in Chicago on Saturday March 30, 2002. More than 1,500 attended the P.C.S.'s annual "Rangla Punjab 2002" 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, songs and poetry.

"The quality and level of performances was outstanding, and I have noticed it getting better and better every year, many of them better than the professional artists. It must take a lot of hard work, I appreciate it very much," said Raj Judge of Matrix Packaging Inc., the chief guest.

"The best part was to see so many young people, boys and girls, up on the stage, anywhere from 3 years old to teenagers, adults, group after group, for almost five hours," said Bhagwant Singh Sandhu the P.C.S. president.

"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," said Sunny Kular, the senior vice-president of P.C.S.

"P.C.S. is doing an excellent job of bringing awareness of Punjabi culture to our own youth and also to the outside mainstream community," said retired professor Jaginder Singh Ramdev. See Pictures

Rajinder Singh Mago and Jatinder Kaur (Tinku), Dr. Harjinder Singh Khaira, Mohinderjit Singh Saini, and Jasmeet Kaur Mago, hosted the three segments of the program.

P.C.S. treasurer Jasbir Singh Palia welcomed the guests and spoke about the spirit of Vaisakhi, which was personified by more than 32 wonderful item presentations. Colorful and fabulously coordinated Bhangra and Gidha, several Punjabi songs, and many laser fast group dances, ranging from deeply traditional to ultra modern, were presented. The performers included well known artists, Dr. Harjinder Khaira , Uma Setia, Gautam Kahlon, Jagmeet Singh, Bhupinder Kaur Saini, Amrik Singh, Mohinderjit Singh Saini, and the young Sabrina Sapal.  Shinu, Naveed, Sabu, Ajay, Bobby and their orchestra provided the melodious music.

The program was sponsored by Matrix Packaging Inc., U.S. Petro Mart, Punjab Auto Works, Met Life Financial Services, Mrs. Bhagwant Kaur Sidhu, Vice Roy of India restaurant, and Buehler YMCA. Dr. Robert Singh and Dr. Surjit Singh
Patheja have sponsored the PCS Scholarship to be awarded later.  Click here for a printable application.

Thakar Singh Basati, past president, recognized the sponsors. Manjit Singh Gill spoke about late Dr. Harbans Singh Sidhu's contributions to the community. Mrs. Bhagwant Kaur Sidhu, who co-sponsored the event in memory of
her late husband Dr. Harbans Singh Sidhu, was awarded a plaque of honor.  MetLife representatives were honored by the P.C.S. chairman Jaidev Singh Bhattal.  Ronny Kular and Baljeet Sangha were recognized with plaques for their special contributions.

Jagmeet Singh introduced the PCS board of directors. Amarjit Kaur Atwal invited all the Punjabi community graduating class of 2002 to register with PCS, to be honored at the "PCS Youth Graduation Night." Bhinder Singh Pamma invited everyone to P.C.S. Sports Festival in summer. Gulzar Singh Multani thanked the sponsor Sukhdev Singh Multani. Past president Harwinder Pal Singh Lail thanked the community and PCS board for help during his tenure.  Onkar Singh Sangha thanked the audience, participants, volunteers, and the sponsors.

P.C.S. President Mr. Bhagwant Singh Sandhu announced that all the participants of "Rangla Punjab 2002," and this year's PCS scholarship winners will be recognized and awarded at PCS's next event "P.C.S. Youth Graduation Night," on June 9 at Vice Roy banquet hall in Lombard, IL.   "P.C.S. is planning an annual 'International Bhangra Competition' in Chicago in November this year," he added. He also thanked his board and the organizing committee.

The organizing committee included: Bhagwant Singh Sandhu, Sunny S. Kular, Dr. Harjinder Singh Khaira, Onkar Singh Sangha, Jasbir Singh Palia, Jagjit Singh Dhindsa, Bhinder Singh Pamma, Jagmeet Singh, Yadwinder Singh Grewal,
Amarjit Kaur Atwal, Manjit Singh Gill, Thakar Singh Basati, Sukhmel Singh Atwal, Gulzar Singh Multani, Mohinderjit Singh Saini, Harwinder Paul Singh Lail, Jaswinder Singh Sapal, Ronny Kular, Baljeet Kaur Sangha, Jasdeep Kaur Sangha, Jatinder Kaur, Ranjit Kaur Sapal, Jasmeet Kaur Mago, Parminder Singh Ghotra, Kirpal Kaur Lall, Kamal Battu, Sonu Nijjar, Amrinder Singh, Sweety Sangha, Annu Sharma, P.S. Maan, Jasjit Mudhar, Navdeep Dhillon, Dhruba Bhattacharya, and Rajinder Singh Mago.

"Rangla Punjab 2002" video will be available from PCS for $10 by hand or $15 by mail.

The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago is a not-for-profit community organization devoted to promoting Punjabi culture, language, performing arts, healthy life style, sports, and education in the metropolitan Chicago area.  PCS welcomes constructive feedback from you to improve on community events.

For PCS performances @ "Passport to the World" Children's Museum 2002 Navy Pier, Bhangra

For further information please contact:
P.C.S.'s 24 hour Punjabi hot line Phone: (847) 359-5PCS,
Fax: (847) 359-1107, or Write to: P.O. Box 1244, Palatine, IL 60078.
E-mail: punjabnews@aol.com , Info@PCSChicago.org or visit P.C.S. Website:  http://www.PCSChicago.Org

PCS News release prepared by: Rajinder S. Mago, PCS Managing Director      

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