RECORD-BREAKING
ATTENDANCE AT "RANGLA PUNJAB 2000" TALENT
GALORE AT THE COLORFUL PUNJABI
SHOW PUNJABI CULTURAL SOCIETY OF CHICAGO SHOWCASES YOUNG TALENT |
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P.C.S. News Release: April 20, 2000 CHICAGO: The Punjabi community of metropolitan Chicago celebrated the Vaisakhi festival on Saturday April 15, 2000 at Gateway Theater in Chicago. More than 2,000 attended this sold-out show. A fabulous state-of-the-art traditional Punjabi program was presented by more than 200 local community artists of all ages from Chicago, suburbs and neighboring states. "Rangla Punjab," a major annual Punjabi cultural event in Metropolitan Chicago, since the early eighties was organized by the Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (P.C.S.). A colorful six hour long Punjabi cultural program entitled, "Rangla Punjab 2000" superbly sequenced items of traditional Punjabi dances Bhangra, Gidha, songs and hilarious comedy skits. "It was an opportunity for people to experience the wonderful traditions of the Punjabi culture, including dance, songs and funny skits, I enjoyed it tremendously," said Alice Dungey of DeVry Institute of Technology, one of the sponsors of the program. People from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin came together with a sense of community and for a night of fun and entertainment suitable to the youth and adults alike "The best part was to see so many enthusiastic and talented children, boys and girls, up on the stage, anywhere from 3 years old to teenagers, adults, group after group, many of them better than the professional artists, it was AMAZING !" said Dr. Birinder Singh Marwaha, president of India Medical Association (Illinois)"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 Sukhchain Singh Sandhu a visiting Sikh scholar from Punjab, India. A moment of silence was observed in memory of the 39 Sikhs massacred in Chati Singh Pura, in Kashmir last month during president Clinton's visit to India and Pakistan. Jasjit Kaur Sangha, a student at DeVry Institute of Technology, and an active youth member of the community, won the 2000 P.C.S. scholarship award coordinated by Sunny Kular. Miss Sangha plans to go on to study Computer Information Systems. Dr. Gurbachan Singh Kapoor, president of Sikh Religious Society of Indiana and also the past P.C.S. chairman presented the scholarship. Dr. Surjit Singh Patheja of Valparaiso Indiana and Dr. Sukhjit Singh Gill of Oakbrook, Illinois sponsored the P.C.S. scholarship "Bhand," by Happy Mauji, "Ghurarhe Bapu De," by Tarlochan Singh Multani, "Adhi Chhuti Saari,," by Jassi Parmar and "Khatian Mithian," presented by Jasvir Singh Gill of California, the satirical but very funny skits kept the audience rolling in their seats with laughter The performers included well known artists Jasvir Singh Gill, Jassi Parmar, Dr. Madhu Arya, Dara Singh, Pammi Gill, Mini and Bini Basati, Dr. Harjinder Khaira and Mona Bhalla. Chandrakant Williamson, Mohammad Ali and their orchestra coupled with a great sound system made it a memorable musical night.Reciprocating to the P.C.S.'s earlier participation in P.H.O.'s program on April 1, 2000, in a fine display of mutual cooperation and community solidarity, Punjabi Heritage Organization (P.H.O.) presented an excellent dance item coordinated by Paramjeet Sekhon. Punjabi Community Organization of Milwaukee Wisconsin also participated in "Rangla Punjab 2000" with a fantastic guest item Bhangra, while P.C.S. presented skits and Bhangra in their Vaisakhi program last yea. |
More than 35 wonderful items were presented, including the exciting dance performances "NaviPaneeri," "Boliyan - Bachian Punjab Dian," “Punjabi Munde” "Chan Makhna," “Punjabi Sher”, "Kotha Pa Leya," “Punjabi Jawan”, "Kala Shah Kala," "Punjabi Gabhroo-Shaunkee Bhangre De," "Preet Brothers," "Punjabi Mix", Kurhiya Shehr Dia” and many others Rajinder Singh Mago, Navraaz Basati, radio show host Manjit Gill, Dr. Harjinder Singh Khaira and Jasvinder Parmar hosted the five segments of the program. P.C.S. President Mohinderjit Singh Saini welcomed the guests and Dr. Sandeep Khosla declared the program open. Harwinder Pal Singh Lail Senior Vice President of P.C.S. introduced the chief guest Mr. Sukhdev Singh Multani, a successful businessman from Naperville, Illinois. Darshan Singh Dhaliwal was the grand sponsor of the event. The other program sponsors, PoloBuilders, Met Life, DeVry Institute of Technology, Buehler YMCA, Punjab Auto Works/ A-1 Carpets, Matrix Packaging Inc., Menjinder Singh Bhambra, Amolak Singh Gidda, Swarnjit Singh Dhillon, Dr. Sandeep Khosla, Dr. Rashpal Singh Bajwa, and Harjinder Singh Sandhu were awarded plaques of appreciation. To appreciate P.C.S. Gidha team's performance A-1 Carpets pledged an award of $1,000. P.C.S. Bhangra team coordinated by Jaswinder Sapal also received many kudos for their wonderful performance. Indian Platter restaurant generously catered a delicious food for the organizers. Thakar Singh Basati introduced the PCS board of directors. President Mohinderjit Singh Saini thanked the audience, participants, volunteers, sponsors and his team. Mr. Saini also announced the PCS's future programs and that all the participants of "Rangla Punjab 2000" will be honored at PCS's next event "Punjabi Sports Festival 2000. The organizing committee included: Mohinderjit Singh Saini, Harwinder Paul Singh Lail, Dr. Harjinder Singh Khaira, Bhagwant Singh Sandhu, Onkar Singh Sangha, Jassi Parmar, Jaswinder Singh Sapal, Navraaz Kaur Basati, Sunny Kular, Jagjit Singh Dhindsa, Bhinder Singh Pamma, Jagmeet Singh, Amarjit Kaur Atwal, Gurmeet Singh Mudhar, Ranjit Kaur Sapal, Sweety and Surinder Sangha, Jatinder Kaur, Kulwant Singh, Kirpal Kaur Lall, Yadwinder Singh Grewal, Manjit Singh Gill, Thakar Singh Basati, Sukhmel S. Atwal, Gulzar Singh Multani, and Rajinder Singh Mago. "Rangla Punjab 2000" video is available from PCS for $10 by hand or $13 by mail. The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago is a not-for-profit community organization devoted to promoting Punjabi culture, language, performing arts and sports in the metropolitan Chicago area. For further information please contact: PUNJABI CULTURAL SOCIETY of Chicago P. O. Box 1244, Palatine, IL 60078 Phone: (847) 359-5PCS, Fax: (847) 359-1107 E-mail: Punjabnews@aol.com Web Site: http://www.PCSChicago.org Please visit us at our web site and give your feedback online about RANGLA PUNJAB 2000 .
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(847) 359-5PCS, 
(847) 359-1107 
PCS
News Release April 20, 2000