Punjabi Americans Celebrate Baisakhi with Colorful Bhangra and Gidha

Chicago IL: Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS) celebrated its annual Baisakhi festival Rangla Punjab 2013 at Copernicus Theater (5216 W. Lawrence Ave. Chicago) on Saturday, March 30, 2013. The program was divided into four quarters each with its own MC. Sikh associations of Milwaukee contributed several dance performances with an authentic rural flavor that were greeted with appreciative hoots by the Chicagoland audience. Awards were presented to several individuals for outstanding services to the Sikh community. Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford was guest of honor. PCS Founder and Past President Rajinder Singh Mago welcomed the audience.

The first part of the program was emceed by Navraaz Kaur Basati, who kept switching between English and Punjabi, on behalf of her father PCS past president Thakar Singh Basati. Born in the US and married to a non-Desi, she recounted various travel anecdotes juxtaposing Punjabi, Indian, and American culture. Children of the Sikh Community of Chicago coordinated by Gurmukh Singh kicked off the evening with Shabad or Sikh hymns from the holy books.

Avneet Kular, Gia Dhaliwal, Rasna Dhillon, Budna Kaur, Parlyn Banipal, and Asees Khaira of Navi Paneeri performed a dance choreographed by Sukhwinder Kaur. Avtar Singh Multani then sang “Jag Nu Vekhan Rabba.” “Gidha Majajanan Da” consisting of Jasmeen K. Dhillon, Simran Kaur, Arleen Dhillon, Karen Parmar, Megan Dhillon, and Japnoor Chhabra was also choreographed by Sukhwinder Kaur. Punjabi Youth Club of Milwaukee then presented “Junior Bhangra” choreographed by Vicky, Hunny, Sukhi, and Bawa, and performed by Prabh, Sundeep, Arsh, Aayush, Baljinder, Abhijeet, Manreet, and Maninderjit.

The second part of the program was emceed by Janamjeet Kaur Chahal from Portage, Indiana, who had previously worked at Doordarshan (TV) in India and remains professionally active in media. Mahijit Virdi sang “Babe Bhangre Pawnde.” “Shan Bhangra Di” was choreographed by Gursimran Singh and Sukhwinder Kaur to be performed by Bikram Sahota, Aarondeep Singh, Daanvir Heer, Sunny Singh, Parmeet Kular, Henri Singh Parmar, Hardeep Dhillon, Karan Singh, and Sunny Singh. Kaum Punjabi Juniors comprising Kerman Kular, Anmol Singh, Avijit Singh, and Onkar Lalli were choreographed by Pardeep Singh Deol and Harleen Kaur Saini.

Boys To Men choreographed by Paul Shergill and Kulwinder Singh comprised of Jaskam Dhillon, Sirtaj Sandhu, Aurndeep Sandhu, Arman Sandhu, Waris Walia, Mandeep Sangha, and Ankit Singh Parmar. Prabhdeep, Sundeep, Navjot, Parwinder, Prabjot, Sukhjinder, Kamal, Kamaldeep, and Prabh from the Punjabi Youth Club of Milwaukee performed “Malwai Gidha” choreographed by Vicky, Hunny, Sukhi, and Bawa. Anmol Dhaliwal, Simran Sangha, Simran Walia, Harjot Dosanjh, Summer Heer, and Hannah Kaur of Punjabi Moorniyaa were choreographed by Amrit Singh Thind. This second part concluded with Jasleen K Cheema, Gurkiran K Palia, Jigerjit K Cheema, Amneet K Cheema, Deepali Patel, and Srija Thipirneni of Punjaban Mutiaran choreographed by Pinky Palia and Kiranjeet Kaur Cheema.

Guest of honor Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford said it was his eighth year attending PCS events. He was presented with an inscription commemorating the Sikh soldiers from British India who fought alongside the allied forces during the two World Wars. Outgoing PCS president (2012) Baljit Singh Sidhu was honored with a plaque presented by chief guest Dr. Bhupinder Singh Saini of Milwaukee. Outgoing PCS Chairman (2011-2012) Dr. Amarjit Singh, who was to be similarly honored, was out of town. Bhupinder Saini received a plaque for his continuing support from Chairman Lakhvir Singh Sahota, President Surinder Singh Sangha, and other current PCS officials. Mago conducted the awards and recognition ceremonies.

The third quarter, emceed by Mago, began with “Milwaukee Gidha” choreographed by Beant Kaur Virk and performed by Navaljit Virk, Harjot Sandhu, Sukhpinder Sidhu, Simi Toor, Simran Toor, Gurpreet Dulai, Vaanchhita Bhatia, Preet Mahesh, Harjot Mehesh, Navpreet Sandhu, and Khushbeen Virk. “Nachdiyaan Hooran” choreographed by Harkirat Sethi was danced by Karneet Sethi, Shreya Joshi, Khushi Jain, Priyanshi Ahuja, Khushi Thakur, and Riya Trikha.
Parina Mehrotra sang “Ehna Akhiyaan” in tribute to the late songwriter and Padma Shri awardee Surinder Kaur, “Nightingale of Punjab,” who had popularized folk songs of the region. “Billa Chah Wala te Bhaia in America” was a humorous skit enacted by Jassi Parmar and Charandeep Singh depicting two stock characters from Doordarshan’s ”Dehati” series. Navjot, Parwinder, Prabhjot, Sukhjinder, Kamal, Kamaldeep, Ashveer, Ricky, Peter, and Arun of Punjabi Youth Club of Milwaukee performed “Miltown Bhangra” choreographed by Vicky, Hunny, Sukhi, and Bawa.

Chetan Saini sang “Mein Tenu Samjhawaan.” “Punjabi Sherniyaan” comprising Amrita Anand, Gurpreet Dhaliwal, Harmanjit K. Dhillon, Tanveer Sandhu, Amanjeet K. Dhillon, and Jaslin Nanua was choreographed by Amrit Kaur Thind; “Gidhe Diyan Ranian” comprising Paramjot Dhillon, Arleen Dhillon, Baani Kaur, Rajni Kaur, Simran Kaur, Sehaj Kaur, Baninder Clair, Gurinder Clair, Prabhjit Clair, and Emmanpreet Gill by Sukhvir Kaur Dhillon. Harleen Saini (choreographer), Mona Singh, Isabel Kolencherry, Gursimran Dulat, Kinney Sneth, Alekya Eyunni, Amrita Randhawa, Pulkit Goel, Lovepreet Singh, Amit Shah, Fahr Khan, Gurpal Sandhu, and Bikram Chohan performed for University of Illinois Chicago Bhangra.

Founder and host of Desi Junction radio, Jassi Parmar was MC for the last quarter. Captained by Sonia Singh, Ministry of Bhangra performers also included Neha Patel, Jeffrey Griffin, Ajay Haryani, Krunali Sheth, Naina Navni, Lovepreet Singh, Deep Kaur, Eeshan Ahuja, Venkat Murali, and Husam Najib on the dholi (drum). “Morniyan Punjab Diyan” comprising Shasha Singh, Anisha Kalra, Simran Saini, Simran Maini, Pameena Bhugra, and Paldma Bhugra was choreographed by Sonica Singh. Dalbir Chopra sang “Dhhai Din Na Jawaani Naal.”

Anakh Punjabiyan Di team members Simmi Dulat, Surpreet Dulat, Sunny Dulat, Gagandeep Singh Suie, Parvinder Singh Sahota, and Jasveen Gill danced to Lovedeep Dulat’s choreography. The DePaul University Bhangra performance by Ankush Ansal, Navi Kaur, Harita Joshi, Manpreet Kaur, B. Modi, Kinjal Shah, Irynjot Sanghera, Amar Pandya, Paul Sandhu, Gurveer Raju, Rahim Jawani, and Lakhwinder Singh was choreographed by Puneet Kahlon and Manpreet Kaur.

After almost six hours, the program closed towards 1:00 am with a gidhra from Shaunkanna Chicago Diyan members Paramvir Singh, Nehchal Sandhu, Anmol Dhaliwal, Gurpreet Dhaliwal, Jasleen Kaur Dandona, Shaloo Chhabra, Harmanjit Dhillon, Amrit Kaur Thind, and Jeeta Kaur, choreographed by Rajpreet Dhaliwal and Sukhwinder Kaur, who also performed.