“CHAK
DE BHANGRA" AT CHICAGO WHITE SOX BASEBALL STADIUM
Chicago, July 26, 2009
R.S. Mago
"Oye Balle Balle," were the sounds ringing at the
Chicago White Sox stadium when popular Punjabi folk dance Bhangra
was presented at the home plate to more than twenty thousand fans
watching the baseball game at U.S. Cellular Field on July 21,
2009. Chicago White Sox were playing against Tampa Bay Rays.
Click: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPL7417W3G0
The occasion was to celebrate Asian Heritage Night. The American
National Anthem was sung by an Asian American singer Marlene Ho,
and the ceremonial first ball was pitched by an Asian American
beauty quee
Bhangra dance selected by Sox to be performed at the game on the
field at home plate, was coordinated by Punjabi Cultural Society
of Chicago (PCS) and performed by University of Chicago "Balle
Bhangra" team, preceded by live Punjabi dhol drumming performance
by the dholis (drummers) of University of Illinois at Chicago
(UIC) bhangra team. Many Punjabi community members came to the
ball game to support the event. With thousands clapping, the stadium
P.A. sound system played Punjabi Bhangra music also during the
high points in the game to rouse fans to cheer and root for their
home team.
Last time PCS presented bhangra at White Sox game was on May
1, 2005 at the White Sox vs Detroit Tigers game. PCS has also
presented Bhangra at Chicago Bull’s basketball game in March
2009.
“We are proud to be invited by Chicago White Sox the second
time, to entertain and share our rich Punjabi culture with the
American mainstream, to create awareness about our community in
the metropolitan Chicago and beyond. It's a step in the right
direction to create mutual understanding, and this is what PCS
Chicago strives to do,” said Rajinder Singh Mago of PCS,
the event coordinator.
The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago is a not-for-profit
community organization devoted to promoting Punjabi culture, language,
performing arts, healthy life style and sports, education, and
good citizenship in the metropolitan Chicago area. For further
information please contact:
