For more information contact: K.P. Singh
317-849-7340
For immediate release:
More than a thousand people from Indiana and across the United
States enjoyed the color and spectacle of Rangeela Punjab in
Indianapolis this weekend. Mayor Bart Peterson proclaimed it
"Rangeela Punjab Day" Saturday at the jewel event of
three days of festivities designed to build bridges across
cultures.
This colorful and exciting display and sharing of the Punjabi
culture with the people of Indiana was sponsored by the Sikh
Educational & Cultural Society. Participants included many
of those from India living in Central Indiana.
The gala benefit was Saturday evening at the Westin hotel in
Indianapolis. The keyword was smiles. Everyone was smiling.
Event Co-chairman K.P. Singh described it as full of
"color, energy, excitement and friendliness." Singh
said it was a truly remarkable sharing of culture with
approximately 40 per cent of attendees of Indian extraction and
60 percent native Hoosiers.
WISH-TV anchor, Joy Dumandan, emceed the event. A Ladies Giddha
(folkdance) entertained, as local women danced in colorful
costumes under the artistic direction of Dinny Sandhu. Other
entertainers included the highly popular Asian Disco Dancers of
Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, choreographed by Marteena
Singh and Beenu Sikand, and coordinated by Janice Singh. As a
demonstration of the importance of learning about diverse
traditions and cultures at an early age, the Children's Punjabi
Folk Dance, directed by Sonia Gill and Mallika Chaudhary, was
presented. All attending, said Shary Johnston, co-chair of the
event, enthusiastically received this truly inspired, colorful
and energetic demonstration of folk dance. A Young Men's Punjabi
Folk Dance, or Bhangra, was directed by Manjit Grewal.
"The evening was a beautiful and colorful dance of spirit
with reflections
and affirmations of our shared humanity and our expanding
tapestry of
cultures; a landmark triumph that the 'Winds of Culture' have
begun to freely
flow through the Hoosier Heartland." said K.P. Singh.
The main entertainment was Silinder Singh and Pardesi, his band,
brought to the U.S. from London, especially for the Rangeela
Punjab. Their synergy and music left the floor shaking at the
Westin hotel as all danced to their music. Everyone learned to
dance in the Punjabi fashion. Pardesi gave a demonstration
Friday night at Indiana University-Purdue University
Indianapolis. Silinder explained the rhythms and spirit of
Punjabi music and culture to members and guests of the
International program at IUPUI.
The evening at the Westin featured a dinner catered by India
Garden, a well-known Indian restaurant, and a bazaar of Indian
items including exotic spices from GDP Spices, colorful carpets
at the Carpet Emporium, and other exciting imported gifts at the
Lily Boutique and the International Bazaar/Sai's Boutique
booths.
The final event for the weekend was a religious service at the
Sikh Satsang or temple on Indianapolis' southeast side. The
service included the performance of religious music by Silinder
Singh and a couple of members of Pardesi and was followed by a
meal catered by the Grill of India.
In keeping with Mayor Bart Peterson's call to make Indianapolis
an inviting and attractive cultural destination, he and Mrs.
Peterson served as Honorary Chairs with Senator and Mrs. Richard
Lugar, Dr. and Mrs. Jaswant S. Gidda, Dr. Chandan Singh and Dr.
Santosh Singh, Mr. and Mrs. Surinder Dhesi, and Mr. and Mrs.
Darshan Singh Darar. Many other community leaders served on the
Honorary Committee.
Additional sponsors included the Christel DeHaan Family
Foundation on behalf of Christel House, Eli Lilly & Company,
Telamon Corporation, American Red Cross, Pacers Sports &
Entertainment, Applied Engineering Services, Maninder Walia and
Andrew Van Winkle, to name a few. Several individuals and
organizations sponsored tables of students from area schools
including IUPUI, Marian College, Butler University, Martin
University, University of Indianapolis, Noblesville High School,
Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School and International School of
Indiana.
March 23, 2002
For more information contact: K.P. Singh 317-849-7340 or Shary
Johnston at 317-877-5822
For immediate release:
Dancing to the music of Great Britian's finest contemporary
Punjabi musician, Silinder Pardesi, and his Punjabi band, is
just a small part of the evening at the second "Rangeela
Punjab" sponsored by the Sikh Educational & Cultural
Society of Indianapolis on March 23, 2002, at the Westin
Downtown.
"Now more than ever, building bridges and sharing cultures
while celebrating diversity in our community is important.
Rangeela Punjab celebrates the colorful and fabulous Punjabi, or
northern Indian culture," says K.P. Singh, co-chair of the
event, in an open invitation to all to share a unique cultural
experience in the Hoosier heartland. "We will feast on
authentic North Indian cuisine, enjoy a variety of beautiful and
dazzling ethnic attire, and experience the exciting rhythms of
Punjabi folk and contemporary disco music."
WISH-TV anchor, Joy Dumandan, will emcee the event. A Ladies
Giddha (folkdance) will entertain as local women dance in
colorful costumes. Other entertainers include the Asian Disco
Dancers of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, choreographed by
Marteena Singh and Beenu Sikand, and coordinated by Janice
Singh.
As a demonstration of the importance of learning about diverse
traditions and cultures at an early age, the Children's Punjabi
Folk Dance will also be presented. Also toward this end, close
to a hundred students from Franklin Central High School, Brebeuf
Jesuit Preparatory School, the International School of Indiana,
IUPUI, Marian College, Butler University, Martin University and
the University of Indianapolis will be selected to attend.
A mini-Punjabi Bazaar will offer samples of exotic spices from
GDP Spices, colorful carpets at the Carpet Emporium, and other
exciting imported gifts at the Lily Boutique and the
International Bazaar/Sai's Boutique booths.
Dinner will feature Indian delicacies from the India Garden, a
popular Indianapolis restaurant.
Rangeela Punjab invitations are going out this month. The event
is a fundraiser to support the work of the Sikh Educational
& Cultural Center on the eastside of Indianapolis, according
to co-chair Shary Johnston.
In keeping with Mayor Bart Peterson's call to make Indianapolis
an inviting and attractive cultural destination, he and Mrs.
Peterson have agreed to serve as Honorary Chairs with Dr. and
Mrs. Jaswant S. Gidda, Dr. Chandan Singh and Dr. Santosh Singh,
Mr. and Mrs. Surinder Dhesi, and Mr. and Mrs. Darshan Singh
Darar, according to K.P. Singh. Many other community leaders
serve on the Honorary Committee.
Named for the State of Punjab in India, this northwest region,
which has been the gateway to India since ancient times,
includes a wide spectrum of faiths, traditions, cultures and
ethnic backgrounds. The Rangeela Punjab, or the Fabulous and
Colorful Punjab, also promotes understanding and communication
between the Punjabi community and others in central Indiana.
For more information or to receive an invitation, call K.P.
Singh (317)849-7340 or Shary Johnston at (317)877-5822 or
Maninder Singh Walia (317)710-5433.
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