CHICAGO: June is the official start of the summer season and the United Punjabis of America (UPA) is set to get this season off to a sizzling start with a Punjabi Mela to be held at Ashton Place in Willowbrook, a southwest suburb of Chicago, on Sunday, June 12.
The Mela will begin at 11 am and the curtain will come down on the festivities at 4 pm. With delicious Punjabi food available for purchase and booths offering the latest in fashion and style, this afternoon will feature three very exciting competitions, a group dance competition as well as Miss UPA and Ms. UPA, the first such competitions to be held in the Chicago area.
“Miss UPA and Ms. UPA competitions are an opportunity to showcase the immense talent and style that young people have,” said Sureeta Trikha, a UPA officer and the point person for these competitions. “In the spirit of inclusiveness that is a hallmark of UPA, the competitions are open to any woman who meets the age criteria and registers by the registration deadline of May 19. The application form as well as contest rules are posted on the UPA website, www.unitedpunjabisofamerica.org , Sureeta added.
“The beginning of the summer season in India is observed in every part of the country with much singing and dancing,” observed Pratibha Jairath, a VP of UPA. “And we will be recreating that same sense of joy and gratitude for Nature’s bounty by having folk dances from various regions celebrating the diverse cultures of India. We are excited that so many organizations will be sending their representatives to participate in the Mela.”
“The attendees as well as our vendors last year were very pleased with the arrangements and we look forward to an equally successful event this year,” Sharan Wallia , a spokesman said.
The mission of UPA is to preserve the rich Punjabi heritage and serve and become a positive force for enhancing and strengthening the Punjabi community and the communities in which Punjabis live. “UPA is not just for Punjabis. It is for everyone interested in the Punjabi culture and the Punjabi community.
That is why we are so excited about the upcoming Mela and the cooperation with so many cultural organizations,” Dharam Punwani explained.
India Post News Service
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