An Annual Vaisakhi Cultural Celebration
 

PCS Press Release: April 26, 2008 Contact: Rajinder Singh Mago 630-440-7730

Photos attached & download link provided. Photo captions are at bottom.
“RANGLA PUNJAB 2008” AN ANCHOR OF PUNJABI CULTURE IN CHICAGO

CHICAGO: More than 1500 community members from metropolitan Chicago and surrounding states jam packed Gateway Theater in Chicago to celebrate Vaisakhi festival on Saturday, April 12, 2008. The festivities kept on going strong from 7:00 p.m. till past midnight. The program was webcast worldwide live on internet.

Dr. and Mrs. Bhupinder Singh Saini of Advanced Pain Management, Milwaukee Wisconsin were the chief guests and also the grand sponsors of the event.

The program titled “Rangla Punjab 2008” is the flagship event of Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS). This is the single largest annual Punjabi community cultural event in Chicago area, in existence for more than quarter of a century. It promotes talent amongst the next generation of the local community and show cases the Punjabi performing arts, Bhangra, Gidha, songs, drama and music.

“The event is to teach our youngsters performing arts, cultural values, community building, unity, leadership, spirit of volunteerism, and philanthropy, I request our community to support P.C.S.,” said Jarnail Singh Lail, the P.C.S. chairperson.

“Vaisakhi festival is the celebration of ending of harvest season, and beginning of a new year, Happy New Year,” said Amarjit Kaur Atwal, PCS president, and she also thanked her board and the organizing team.

Universally popular Punjabi dance Bhangra, Gidha, Punjabi music and songs, comedy skits, and many other items were presented at this stage show. Music was provided by “Tohfa” group of musicians. Milwaukee Bhangra team, and “Gidhey Deeyan Raaniya” the Chicago Gidha team and all other performers rendered excellent acts.

A comedy skit “Toa” (meaning a pot hole) coordinated by Gurmukh Bhullar was a hilarious satire on the plight of marginalized people and a corrupt system.

 

Bhinder Singh Pamma past president of P.C.S. Chicago welcomed the audience. The program was emceed by, Raman Kaur Sekhon, Manjit Singh Gill, Mohinderjit Singh Saini, Ronny Singh Kular and Thakar Singh Basati.

Rajinder Singh Mago, PCS past president, introduced the guests of honors and sponsors who were awarded by Inderjit Singh Sohi, Major Gurcharan Singh Jhaj and Chief guest Dr. Bhupinder Singh Saini. Mago also coordinated the back-stage activities assisted by Kevin Atwal, Baljeet Sangha, Jaspaul Saini, Pardeep Deol, Navjot Singh Multani, Devjot S. Randhawa, Amrita K Randhawa, PCS officials and many other volunteers.

Sunny Kular coordinated the ceremonial release by Dr. & Mrs. Bhupinder Singh Saini of the “Punjabi Pages 2008” the third edition of a community directory published by P.C.S.

 

“The Punjabi Pages directory is to unite the community as a family,” said Sunny Kular.

“P.C.S.’s objective is to create awareness of Punjabi festivals, and rich culture among our own next generation and also the mainstream community,” said Mohinderjit Singh Saini, PCS past president.

“More than 200 local artists young and old participated on stage rendering 28 colorful items. Rangla Punjab show provides encouragement and opportunity to our youth to learn about Punjabi music and dance,” said Balwinder Girn the coordinator of rehearsals.

Program rehearsal space was provided by Palatine Park District, Sandhu Petroleum & Buehler YMCA Palatine.

“All the participants will be honored at "Punjabi Youth Graduation Night 2008," an event on Sunday June 8, 2008, where "Class of 2008 Graduates" will be recognized,” said Parminder Singh Ghotra, PCS Inter-community director,”the graduates must register by June 1,” he added.

 

”P.C.S. will also award $1000 and $750 scholarships to qualified High School Seniors Punjabi students. Last date to apply for the scholarship is May 18, 2008,” said Baljit Sidhu, PCS youth coordinator. PCS seeks Sponsors for the Scholarships and the Graduation Night event.

P.C.S. Basketball tournament is on August 9 and the Sports Festival is on August 10 at Palatine Park District.

P.C.S. will be hosting its annual dinner banquet "PCS Night 2008" on November 8, 2008 with it’s seventh annual "International Bhangra and Gidha Competition."

P.C.S. also announced their "Rangla Punjab 2009" to be held on Saturday, April 11, 2009.

Rishpal Singh of Sunshine DJ coordinated the music, Photography was by Pritpal Singh, and Videography by SHAN video. VIP dinner was catered by Sher-e-Punjab Restaurant, and food for performers by Manpal Singh Grewal.

"We congratulate PCS Chicago for organizing such a colorful Punjabi Cultural variety program, our family simply loves it," said Dr. Bhupinder Singh Saini the Grand Sponsor and chief guest of the event.

The program was sponsored by:

Grand Sponsor: Dr. & Mrs. Bhupinder Singh Saini - Advance Pain Management

Platinum Sponsors: Dr. Narinder Singh Grewal (California)

Gold Sponsors: American Family Insurance, Menjinder S. Bhambra - Combined Oil Co., Amrish Mahajan – Mutual Bank, Inderjeet Singh Sohi & family (Kalamazoo), Grace Printing

Silver Sponsor: Jarnail S. Lail – W.W. Grainger Inc., Jaidev S. Bhattal - Punjab Auto Works, Dr. Sarbjit S. Bhandal, Lovedeep Singh Dulat – Love’s Liquors, Sunny S. Kular, MJS Saini family, Balwinder Kaur – Gagan Petroleum, Chicago Children’s Museum, Harjinder S. Sandhu – Sandhu Petroleum, Dr. Amarjit Singh Bhasin, Beant Singh Boparai, Bibi Bhagwant Kaur Sidhu, Sukhmel Singh Atwal, Baljit Singh Oberoi – SasiaOne.com, Shahid Baig – VmeetLive.com, Palatine Park District, Gurpreet Singh - American Lending.

The event organization committee included the following PCS officials and many community volunteers: Amarjit Kaur Atwal, Ronny Singh Kular, Baljeet Kaur Sangha, Yadwinder Singh Grewal, Parminder Singh Ghotra, Thakar Singh Basati, Rajinder Singh Mago, Manjit Singh Gill, Sukhmel Singh Atwal, Mohinderjit Singh Saini, Harwinder Paul Singh Lail, Bhagwant Singh Sandhu, Sunny S. Kular, Onkar Singh Sangha, Bhinder Singh Pamma, Kevin Atwal, Jaspaul Saini, Jeetu Kaur, Rishpal Singh, Dev Randhawa, Pardeep Deol, Lovedeep Dulat, Kirpal Kaur Lall, Jasbir Kaur Mann, Surinder Singh Bhatia, Satnaam Singh Mago, and Amrita K. Randhawa.

"Rangla Punjab 2008" DVD will be available from PCS for $10 by hand or $15 by mail.

E-mail: Info@PCSChicago.org
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: Info@PCSChicago.org or visit P.C.S. Website: http://www.PCSChicago.org

Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago is a not-for-profit 501C-3 community organization devoted to promoting Punjabi culture, language, performing arts, sports, good citizenship, and healthy life style in metropolitan Chicago area.

Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago
P.O. Box 1244 , Palatine , IL 60078
Ph: (847) 359-5PCS, Fax: (847) 359-1107,
E-mail: Info@PCSChicago.org
P.C.S. Website: http://www.PCSChicago.org