Sarbjit Cheema and Dolisha electrify audience at “Rangla Punjab” event in Illinois

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Chicago IL: The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS) held its flagship annual event “Rangla Punjab” to celebrate (belated) Vaisakhi festival, May 21, 2022. This was the 28^th year of this event by PCS.

The event was held at the Yellow Box Theater, Naperville, Illinois after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 800 people attended according to organizers, a press release from Asian Media USA sai. Nearly 200 children and adults from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin performed Punjabi folk dances Bhangra and Giddha, played music, and socialized.

The audience was on its feet to the songs of prominent Punjabi Singer and film artist Sarbjit Cheema who performed many smash hits like his evergreen song “Rangle Punjab Di Sifat Sunnava,” along with Dolisha a rising star, and their live orchestra from Canada.

Dr. Param P. Singh a cardiovascular physician from Moline, Illinois, who won “The Young Investigator Award” from AACIO in 2010, was the chief guest.

“Rangla Punjab ” is the single largest annual Punjabi cultural event in the Chicago area and the goal of the Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago is to train and provide a platform to the local Punjabi artists to nurture and grow their talents.

“Rangla Punjab” event helps Punjabi youth come closer to their heritage, Punjabi language, culture and community. This indeed is a great community building effort,” Parvinder Singh Nanua, the P.C.S. president, is quoted saying in the press release.

Vice president of P.C.S. Bhupinder Singh Dhaliwal welcomed the attendees. The national anthem sung by Mini Singh, was followed by singing of Sikh prayer hymns by the children of Wheaton and Palatine Gurdwaras.

Seventeen performances including Bhangra and Giddha Punjabi folk dances and music recitals by the local talent were featured in the first half of the event. Esha Kaur Singh played Punjabi tunes on Viola while Jaskaran Sangha played the Dhol.

Dance items were prepared by Neha Sobti, Kiran Bhalla, Kiran Grewal, Gia Dhaliwal, Avneet Kaur Aujla, Jasleen Kaur, Navneet Kaur & Sonia Kohli, Kiran Grewal, Amandeep Kular, Mankirth Singh, Kiran Grewal & Rajbir Dhillon, Neetu Singh, Navtej Sohi & Gurshaan Sohi, Rajpreet Dhaliwal, Kawaljeet Kaur and Payal Virdi.

Young emcees speaking Punjabi were Karan Gill & Gurneer Sidhu; Gurkiran Kaur, Mankirth Singh & Harnoor Singh; Gia Dhaliwal & Guru Dhaliwal; Simran Bhalla & Manpreet Bhalla.

Navtej Singh Sohi and Rajinder Singh Mago provided backstage support to the youth. Surinder Palia, Jasbir Palia, Manjeet Bhalla, Gurlal Bhattal, Iqbal Saini, Rajinder Singh Dyal, Thakar Singh Basati, Jaskaran Saini, Gurpreet Girn, Harleen Saini, Bikram Sahota along with several other volunteers helped with the costumes, turban tying, and bringing the young performers back stage for performance line-ups.

Mago introduced the PCS Honorary Chairman Kevindeep Singh Atwal and Chief Guest Dr. Param P. Singh, who distributed awards to the Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum sponsors.

“I am the third generation being part of PCS and Rangla Punjab,” said Kevindeep Singh Atwal the PCS chairman.

Past PCS Presidents  Harwinder Paul Singh Lail (2019), Balwinder Singh Girn (2020) and PCS Chairman Gurdeep Singh Nandra (2019) were honored with plaques.

“After a couple of years of pause and loneliness caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, I am proud to say that P.C.S. is back with a bang tonight, I feel ecstatic,” said Gurdeep Singh Nandra, who was accompanied by his wife Rajneesh Nandra.

Consul Ranjit Singh of Indian Consulate in Chicago attended with his family and was also recognized. He congratulated PCS for its achievements.

Kimi Mehta, director South Asian Outreach at the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners spoke to encourage South Asian communities to vote.

The second half of the program was conducted by Navtej Singh Sohi and Vick Singh where Dolisha and Sarbjit Cheema sang and danced engaging the crowd.

Many parents congratulated and expressed their appreciation for PCS for continuing to provide opportunities, free coaching and a platform to keep their kids connected with our Punjabi culture, organizers said. Numerous sponsors made the event a success –

Grand Sponsors – S. Darshan Singh Dhaliwal – Bulk Petroleum Inc.; Dr. Bhupinder Singh Saini – Advance Pain Management Milwaukee; Dr. Narinder Singh Grewal – Advance Pain Management Los Angeles.

Platinum Sponsors – Raj Dhaliwal; S. Pritam Singh Nanua

Gold Sponsors- Kevindeep Singh Atwal; Dr. Virkramjit Singh Gill (Midwest MindCare)

Silver Sponsors – Balwinder Girn; Avtar Singh Bhaura (Bhaura Transport Indianapolis); Nick Balwinder Singh; Amritpal Mangat (Pawa Trucking Inc); Amrik Singh (Amar Carpet); Iqbal Singh Saini; Rajneesh Kaur Nandra; Venessa Anand; Amrit Mittal (New York Life); Lakhvir Singh Sahota; and Jaidev Singh Bhattal.

Bronze sponsors – Dr. Amrik Singh Sohi; S. Amolak Gidda; Jagjit Singh Dhindsa; Davinder Singh Rangi; Swaran Singh Sekhon; Parminder Banga; Harbhajan Singh Kalyanpur; Dr. Amrit Virk (Lakeland Dental); Lakhbir Singh Sandhu; Amrik Pal Singh (Solution Financial); Parminder Singh Goldi; Rajinder Singh Dayal; Harinder Singh (MITS); and Jasdeep Singh Saran.

Upcoming PCS events is Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday November 24, 2022 at State Street, Chicago.