CHICAGO: The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCO) presented its flagship annual event “Rangla Punjab 2016” to celebrate Vaisakhi festival on Saturday April 23 at Meadows Club Banquet Hall in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. With more than 200 participants rendering 30 spectacular variety acts and attended by more than 1000 the even turned out to be a huge success.
PCS has been organizing Rangla Punjab for more than two decades. And it happens to be the single largest annual Punjabi cultural variety event in Chicago area, showcasing Punjabi performing arts,
The program was emceed by Jaslin Kaur Nanua & Harmanjit Kaur Dhillon; Mona Bhalla; Guru Dhaliwal & Surinder Singh Sangha; Raskirth Singh & Rajinder Singh Mago. It was divided into four segments, touching upon dazzling performances of Bhangra and Gidha dances, delightful Punjabi songs, and melodious music, by local and guest artists from Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan.
Artists of all ages, teenage boys and girls, college students, and adults dressed in a variety of Punjabi colorful costumes performed their best on stage. Young children were trained by PCS volunteer instructors who were practicing since January of this year for this event.
The Gidha dance moves by the ladies from “Milwaukee Gidha” Team, “Shaunkanna Chicago Diyan” and “Chicago Gidha,” and “Nachdiyaan Mutiyaraan” were nostalgic reminders of rural Punjab and won the hearts of the audience with their fast beat music, stellar acts and colorful costumes. The set up in the lobby with vendors and exhibit booths, Sikh warriors of world wars posters display, resembled a “Mela.”
PCS Vice President Surinder Singh Sangha welcomed the audience. The program opened with singing of a prayer “shabad” by a group of young children from Palatine Gurdwara Gurmat School.
A variety of Punjabi songs delighted the audience. Kanchanji, a versatile singer rendered a melodious song “Aej Jindari Sari Sari;” Mona Bhalla and daughters moved the audience with their energy, passion and the song “Kudi Bindaas;” Mahijit Singh Virdi, a veteran singer and TV artist sang “Dilchori sada ho gaya.” Mandeep Singh Saini sang”Tankhah;” Vijay Rajput sang “Punjabi Boliyaan.” Siobhan Kaur Henegan along with her siblings sang a melodious song “Challa” with live music.
Ronny Kular conducted the awards and recognition ceremonies in cooperation with Sunny Kular. All the sponsors, item coordinators, participants and their families were thanked for their support. Outgoing PCS president Vick Singh was awarded a plaque for his excellent services during his term. Vick Singh thanked his team for their full support in 2015. Outgoing PCS Chairman Amritpal Singh Sangha was also honored with a plaque.
The upcoming P.C.S. organized events are:
“Punjabi Youth Graduation & Scholarship Night” dinner and party on June 12 at Viceroy of India Banquets in Lombard, IL where all the High School and College “Class of 2016” graduates who register will be honored and scholarship awarded to the selected candidates. All the Punjabi students graduating in 2016 are requested to register with PCS to participate in the party and scholarship contest. The “Rangla Punjab 2016” participants will also be honored.
“P.C.S. Sports Festival” is slated for August and PCS Night including Bhangra Competition in November. PCS participation in Thanksgiving Day Parade is on November 24.
The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago is an all volunteer not-for-profit community service organization devoted to promoting Punjabi culture, language, performing arts, education, good citizenship, healthy lifestyle, and sports. Its Board of Directors for 2016 are Harkewal Singh Lally (Hon. Chairman), Gurmit Singh Dhillon (President), Surinder Singh Sangha (Vice President), Bikram Singh Chohan (Executive Secretary), Parvinder Singh Nanua (Finance Secretary), Surinder Singh Palia (Sports Director), Manjeet Singh Bhalla & Kulbir Singh Bagri (Inter-Community Directors), Gagandeep Singh Multani and Raibrinder Singh Ghotra (Youth Directors).
Rajinder Mago
Thank You For Your Vote!
Sorry You have Already Voted!
