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P.C.S. Chicago International Bhangra and Gidha Competition 2008" an Amazing Event
CHICAGO, Nov. 21, 2008 Chicagoans had a treat of their lifetime at "PCS Night 2008" Dinner and Dance Banquet on Saturday, November 8, 2008, at the prestigious Ballroom of Waterford Banquets and Convention Center, Elmhurst Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The event turned out to be a magnificent showcase of Punjabi folk dances Bhangra and Gidha. This 7th. International Bhangra and Gidha Dance Competition organized by Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS), (www.PCSChicago.org), was attended by more than a thousand Punjabi, non-Punjabi and local audience. “I am deeply impressed at the Punjabi talent present here. I have never seen anything like this before. I fully enjoyed the performances, they were all exceptional,“ said Ms. Susan Shin, Director of Asian Affairs Office of the Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich. Dr. & Mrs. Bhupinder Singh Saini of Advance Pain Management of Milwaukee Wisconsin were the chief guests and the Grand Sponsors of the “PCS Night 2008”. "I am pleased to see that our cultural heritage has taken root in this country, and is in good hands of our next generation," said Dr. Bhupinder Singh Saini after he saw more than 250 young university students, and professionals from all over USA & Canada competing in this most popular P.C.S. event in Chicago. "We are humbled by such an out pouring of support from our community and the competing teams at this mega event. The whole P.C.S. Chicago committee put in their best effort to make this incredible event a huge success. It was like planning a grandiose youth festival for college teams," said Amarjit Kaur Atwal, the outgoing P.C.S. President. Seventh Annual PCS Chicago International Bhangra and Gidha Competition an amazing event. The program started with a candle lighting ceremony. Sixteen Bhangra and Gidha teams from Cornell University New York, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Georgia, Emory University Atlanta, University of Southern California San Diego, Washington DC, Dallas Texas, Milwaukee Wisconsin, California, Michigan, Toronto and Vancouver Canada, were placed to compete for the honors at this competition. Bhangra has caught on to international liking as was evident from the fact that many of the college teams participants were non-Punjabis including many local Americans and Pan-Asian Americans. The program was jointly emceed by Manjit Singh Gill a Chicago Indian and Punjabi radio host, and Rajinder Singh Mago, board of governors of Punjabi cultural Society of Chicago.
In the Collegiate category “Bull Dawg Da Raj” University of Georgia was placed first, “Karma Bhangra” of Emory University Atlanta Georgia was placed second and “Cornell Kudiyan” of Cornell University New York placed third. These teams won huge trophies. Other competing Bhangra teams who gave electrifying performances were: “Lalkare Sheran De” Bhangra – DC Metro Punjabi Arts Academy, Washington DC, “Karma Bhangra” - Emory University Atlanta Georgia, “People’s Bhangra” University of Southern California San Diego, “Cornell Kudiyan” Cornell University Ithaca New York, and “UIC Bhangra” Chicago. “My wife and I come to see it every year, I won’t miss it for anything,” said Younus Suleman the Asian American liaison to US Congressman Bobby Rush.
Other competing Gidha teams who rendered noteworthy and excellent performances were: “Giddhe Diyan Raaniyaan” from Chicago and “Gidha Milwaukee Da” from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “The girls had a fantastic time on and off stage, it was safe and the PCS hospitality was beyond expectations. The organizers were extremely generous hosts and our experience was one to remember," said Sukhraj Boparai of “Koonjan” Gidha team from Brampton Ontario Canada. More than $25,000 cash incentives was disbursed by PCS Chicago amongst competing Bhangra & Gidha teams. Teams traveling farther than 250 miles were provided $500 travel allowance, boarding and lodging for the weekend, local transportation and generous hospitality to all out of state teams by P.C.S. “It is our third year contesting in this PCS competition and we have more and more fun every year,” said Thalvinder Sangha of “Karma Bhangra” Emory University team from Atlanta Georgia. It was evident from the multi ethnic and multi cultural makeup of the contesting teams that Punjabi Bhangra dance has captured international attention. "We are trying to preserve the traditional Punjabi folk dances in their authentic form, but to promote it at an international level we need to encourage and include the non Punjabi participants also, " said Rajinder Singh Mago, the P.C.S. Chicago International Bhangra and Gidha competition coordinator. "Our PCS team has been working very hard to promote and share our Punjabi culture with mainstream through this and many other such PCS programs," said Paul Lail, on behalf of Jarnail Singh Lail the outgoing PCS chairman who is on work assignment in India. "I am honored to be the chairman of P.C.S. Chicago, and I will do my best to support all the P.C.S. events. The organization is already doing a great job representing the Indian American community in mainstream," said Harinder Paul Singh President of Management & Information Technology Solutions, Inc. (MITS) the incoming P.C.S. chairman for 2008-09. "I am sure our PCS Officials team will take P.C.S. to still a higher level of community service in coming years," said Ronny S. Kular the newly appointed president of P.C.S. Chicago for the years 2008-09. Sunny Kular, Bhagwant Singh Sandhu, Bhinder Pamma, Harwinder Pal Singh Lail, Parminder Singh Ghotra, and Ronny Kular honored the sponsors of the event. Onkar Singh Sangha, Baljeet Kaur Sangha, Mohinderjit Singh Saini and Balwinder Girn helped out with facilities, transportation, security and hospitality. The new 2008-2009 P.C.S. board was introduced by Bhagwant S. Sandhu with Harinder Paul Singh - Honorary Chairman, Ronny S. Kular – President, Thakar Singh Basati –Vice-President, Balwinder Singh Girn -Executive Secretary, Parminder Singh Ghotra -Finance Secretary, Baljit Singh Sidhu and Jaspal Singh Saini – Sports Directors, Baljeet Kaur Sangha - Youth Affairs Director, Surinder Singh Sangha – Inter Community Director. Amarjit Kaur Atwal the outgoing president and his family, and Jarnail Singh Lail the outgoing chairman were honored for their outstanding services to the community through PCS. In addition to the current board members, the PCS Board of Governors (PCS Founding members & also past presidents) Thakar S. Basati, Rajinder S. Mago, Manjit Singh Gill, Sukhmel S. Atwal, Mohinderjit S. Saini, Bhagwant S. Sandhu, Sunny S. Kular, Harwinder Pal Singh Lail, Onkar Singh Sangha, and PCS Board of Advisors Jasbir Singh Palia, Bhinder Singh Pamma, Yadwinder Singh Grewal helped organize this mega event. Some of the coordinators and volunteers who helped are Kevindeep S. Atwal, Pardeep S. Deol, Surinder S. Bhatia, Rishpal Singh, Jaswinder S. Sapal CA, Lovedeep Singh Dulat, Beant Kaur Virk, Balwinder Kaur Sekhon, Nimrata K. Singh, Surinder Kaur Basran, Vipan Kaler, Baljit Kaur, Navraaz Basati, Kehar Singh Soodan and Shamila Khetarpal.
Delicious Indian culinary cuisine was catered by Surinder Kumar Jain of Viceroy of India Restaurants. After the competition the Bhangra lovers danced to the DJ bhangra music and live Punjabi Dhol beats.
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| Ronny S. Kular takes over as President and Harinder Paul Singh as Honorary Chairman of Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago Click for more Photos
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