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Punjabi Cultural Society honors Schaumburg mayor

The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago honored Schaumburg Village President Al Larson and the new Consul General of India in Chicago Mukta Dutta Tomar at a dinner Feb. 5 at the India House Restaurant in Schaumburg.

“I started my business from scratch in Schaumburg, I always received great service from the people-friendly village officials,” said Harinder Pal Singh, past chair of PCS Chicago, in introducing Larson. “Now I have expanded to several locations, but Schaumburg is still my favorite.”

Larson said at the dinner of more than 60 people that 17 percent of the town’s residents are East Indian and he talked of the international companies located in the village.

Tomar applauded the work by the Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago to promote Punjabi culture in America.

“Bhangra is no longer only a Punjabi dance, but it is popular all over India and abroad,” said Tomar, who brought Punjabi literary books as gifts.

A DVD, “Cultural Safari,” about the Sikh American community’s culture, spirituality, foods, festivals and performing arts, was screened and there was a presentation titled, “Who are the Sikhs,” intended to create awareness of Sikh appearance, turban, beard, articles of faith, and the core Sikh values, said Rajinder Singh Mago, immediate past president of the group.

Passport and visa issues were a common topic of conversation and the group is holding a free informational camp about those topics March 6 in Palatine, Mago said.

Balwinder Singh Girn, current president of PCS Chicago, outlined the group’s community service programs like “Rangla Punjab 2011” on April 23, Graduation & Scholarship Award Night on June 12 and the PCS Sports Festival in August. The reception was hosted by Diljit and Mohina Ahluwalia, immediate past chairpeople of PCS Chicago.

PCS is a Palatine-based not-for-profit community service organization devoted to promoting Punjabi culture, language, performing arts, education, good citizenship, healthy lifestyle and sports in the Chicago area. Visit PCSChicago.org or call (847) 359-5727.

Guests at the PCS Chicago dinner reception, from left, are Onkar Sangha, Pardeep Deol, Ronny Kular, Rajinder Singh Mago, Surinder Singh Sangha, Consul General of India in Chicago Mukta Dutta Tomar, Balwinder Girn and Schaumburg Village President Al Larson. Courtesy Punjabi Cultural Society