• P.C.S. Chicago International Bhangra and Gidha Competition 2006 a Huge Success.
• Kohinoor" Toronto Wins Bhangra and "Gidhey Diya Raania" Chicago Wins Gidha Championship.
• P.C.S. Board 2006-07 installed, Jasbir Singh Palia hands over baton to Bhinder Singh Pamma as President at Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago's "PCS Night 2006."

Chicago: Punjabis, non-Punjabis and locals alike had a treat of their lifetime at "PCS Night 2006" Dinner and Dance Banquet on Saturday, October 28, 2006, at the prestigious Ballroom of Waterford Banquets and Convention Center, Elmhurst Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The event turned out to be a magnificent showcase of Punjabi folk dances Bhangra and Gidha. This International Bhangra and Gidha Dance Competition organized by Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago www.PCSChicago.org, was attended by more than a thousand.  "I am not worried anymore, I feel ecstatic and relieved to see that our cultural heritage has taken root in this country, it’s live and well, and is in good hands of our next generation," said K.P. Singh of Indianapolis after he saw about 200 young school and university students, and professionals from all over USA & Canada competing in this P.C.S. event in Chicago. [Read more]

Fifth Annual PCS Chicago International Bhangra and Gidha Competition.

Bhangra and Gidha teams from University of Chicago "Balle Bhangra", University of Virginia "UVA Kurian", Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburg Pennsylvania "CMU Chak De", "Atlanta Bhangra Coalition", Washington DC "Nachdiya Prandiya", University of Georgia, Emory University, Toronto Canada, California, Virginia, Georgia, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Illinois were placed to compete for the honors at this competition. Teams traveling farther than 250 miles were given $500 travel allowance, boarding and lodging to all out of town teams was also provided by P.C.S. Bhangra has caught on to international liking as was evident from the fact that many of the college teams participants were non-Punjabis including many local Americans and Pan-Asian Americans.

"Kohinoor" Bhangra dance team from Toronto, Canada a highly traditional team with a superb live performance won the first place trophy and $3,000 cash award sponsored by Gurdwara Sahib of Chicago. The second place trophy with a cash award of $1,000 sponsored by Inderjit Singh Sohi was a tie between a crowd pleaser "Sada Virsa" from Yuba City California, and a young, energetic, and creative "Bull Dawg Da Raj" team from University of Georgia Atlanta. Both 2nd place winners were given $1,000 each. "Karma" Bhangra from Emory University Georgia won the 3rd position trophy and $500 cash at this "5th Annual PCS Chicago International Bhangra Competition."

"Gidhey Diya Raania" a Chicago Gidha dance team who stormed the stage with a dashing traditional performance bagged the Gidha championship trophy and $3,000 cash award. "Rooh Punjab Di" from Indianapolis won the 2nd place trophy and $1,000 sponsored by Harinder Singh of MITS. "Kurian Punjab Diya" from Milwaukee won the 3rd place trophy and $500 cash award.

All other teams who competed but were not placed won a $200 each consolation prize sponsored by Mohina and Diljit Ahluwalia.

Darshan Singh and Debra Dhaliwal of Bulk Petroleum Corp. Wisconsin were the chief guests and the Grand Sponsors of the PCS Night.

"We are humbled by such an out pouring of support from our community at this mega event. The whole P.C.S. Chicago team put in their best effort to make the best possible arrangements for this incredible event to be a huge success," said Jasbir Singh Palia, the outgoing P.C.S. President,

"Our PCS team is working very hard to promote and share our Punjabi culture with mainstream through this and many other PCS programs, please donate generously to make its community center dream come true" said Dr. Navdeep Kaur Sandhu, the outgoing PCS Chairperson.

"I am sure our PCS Officials team will take P.C.S. to still a higher level of community service in coming years," said Bhinder Singh Pamma the newly appointed president of P.C.S. Chicago.

"I am honored to be the chairman of P.C.S. Chicago, and I will do my best to support all the P.C.S. events. The organization is already doing a great job representing the Indian American community in mainstream," said Balwinder Singh the new P.C.S. chairman for 2006-07.

"We are promoting the traditional dance form and authenticity in their performance, that’s given," said Rajinder Singh Mago, the P.C.S. Chicago International Bhangra competition coordinator, "but we need to find a way to encourage and inspire those participants who are born here and have never seen Punjab," he added.

The new 2006-2007 P.C.S. board was introduced by Harwinder Paul Singh Lail with Bhinder Singh Pamma as president along with Balwinder Singh, as honorary chairperson, Amarjeet Kaur Atwal Vice President, Ronny Kular -Executive Secretary, Baljeet Kaur Sangha -Finance Secretary, Yadwinder Singh Grewal and Harkirat Singh Sandhu -Sports Directors, Jay Singh -Youth Director, and Parminder Singh Ghotra - Inter-Community Director. Harbir Singh Virk was honored at his retirement from active duty.

PCS Board of Governors (PCS Founding members & also past presidents) Thakar S. Basati, Rajinder S. Mago, Manjit S. Gill, Sukhmel S. Atwal, Mohinderjit S. Saini, Bhagwant S. Sandhu, Sunny S. Kular, and PCS Board of Advisors (active PCS past presidents) Harwinder Paul S. Lail and Onkar Singh Sangha helped organize this mega event.

Some of the PCS coordinators and volunteers who helped are Kevindeep S. Atwal, Jaspal S. Saini, Satnaam S. Mago. Shamila Khetarpal, Jujhar Singh, Lovedeep S. Dulat, Pete Deol, Kirpal K. Lall, Jaspal S. Kaler, Amarpal S. Matharu, and Kamal Saini.

The PLATINUM SPONSORS were Dr. & Mrs. Bhupinder Singh Saini - Advance Pain Management Wisconsin, Mr. & Mrs. Balwinder Singh - A-One Carpets Chicago, Mr. Harjinder Singh & Dr. Navdeep Kaur Sandhu - Sandhu Petroleum Chicago,

The GOLD SPONSORS were Sunny S. Kular, Rangla Punjab Organization-Milwaukee, Sukhdev S. Multani, Harinder Singh - MITS, Menjinder S. Bhambra - Combined Oil, Gurudwara Sahib of Chicago, Taranpaul S.Chawla - The Chawla Group

The SILVER SPONSORS were Kehar S. Soodan - Soodan & Associates, Jarnail S. Lail - Grainger Inc, Jaidev S. Bhathal - Punjab Auto Works, Thakar S. Basati - VAAN Reality Services, Ltd., Rajinderbir S. Mago, Sukhmel S. Atwal, Amolak S. Gidda - Aviation Consulting Co. Inc., Gurbachan K. Shiwakarmani - Regal Jewels, Surinder S. Palia IN., Harwinder Singh Ghotra, Bhinder S. Pamma, Jagjit S. Dhindsa, Parvinder S. Sangha WI, Inderjit S. Sohi-Kalamazoo, MI. PCO Wisconsin, Kashmir Singh, Lovedeep S. Dulat, Dr. Rajinder S. Sandhu, Gurdev Singh WI, American Airlines, Dr. Manohar L. Jain, Bikramjit Singh WI., Manjit S. Dhillon WI., Jaspal Singh IN, Balwinder Kaur-Gagan Petroleum IN., FIA Chicago, Punjab Sweets, K. P. Singh IN., Mona & Daljit Ahluwalia, Viceroy of India Restaurants, Dr. Hargurmukhpal Singh, Punjabi Heritage Organization, Lakhvir S. Sahota - Anchor Transportation.

Delicious Indian culinary cuisine was catered by Surinder Jain of Viceroy of India Restaurants. After the competition the Bhangra lovers danced to the DJ bhangra music and live Punjabi Dhol beats past midnight.

PCS will be participating on Thursday, November 23rd at 73rd State Street Thanksgiving Day Parade on Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL. http://www.pcschicago.org/mainstream/Parade04/index.htm 

Other P.C.S. programs include: "Rangla Punjab 2007," scheduled for April 7, 2007 at Gateway Theater in Chicago and "Punjabi Sports Festival 2007," planned for the summer of 2007. "Scholarships" for Punjabi youth will be awarded at the "Punjabi Youth Graduation Night 2007" on June 10th.

The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago is a not-for-profit community organization devoted to promoting Punjabi culture, language, performing arts, education, sports, healthy life style, and good citizenship in the metropolitan Chicago area. For further information please contact:

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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