HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY, Hempstead, NY: Over 400 guests enjoyed joyful Punjabi music and folk dances performed by students during the April 12 celebration of Vaisakhi at Hofstra University, presented by Hofstra and the Bindra family of Long Island.Indian MP Tarlochan Singh, a past chairman of the Minority Commission of India, was the guest of honor.

He spoke about the historical significance of the religious and cultural Vaisakhi festival. It is also a day of great joy and celebration for the Punjabi farmers as the advent of harvest season and harbinger of family prosperity after months of hard work at the fields.Singh congratulated the Bindra family and Hofstra University for the choice of the DalaiLama as the first recipient of the Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize, endowed by the Sardarni Kuljit Kaur Bindra Charitable Foundation.

Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz traced the history and importance of Hofstra's Bindra Chair in Sikh Studies and Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize.He said the University was very proud of this partnership with the local Sikh community and with the Bindra family, whose initiatives had helped the University to expand its horizons contributed to the establishment and growth of its Department of Religions.

Tejinder Bindra, who is also a trustee of Hofstra University, earlier welcomed the audience on behalf of the Bindra family and thanked the University for its efforts. Balbinder Singh Bhogal, Ph.D., was introduced as an associate professor of religion and the new Bindra Chair in Sikh Studies. Dr Bhogal reiterated his resolve to further promote the academic study of Sikh religion.

Dr Hakam Singh, a prominent retired engineer, announced his plans to create a new endowed chair in Sikh musical studies at Hofstra, and traced the historical importance and development of Sikh religious music.