Rangla Punjab 2023 offers a window to thriving Punjabi culture in Chicago

The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago hosted its flagship event, Rangla Punjab, celebrating the Vaisakhi festival on Saturday, March 25, at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.

More than 1,000 people attended the 29th annual event where nearly 260 children and adults from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin performed Punjabi folk dances Bhangra and Giddha, played music, and socialized.

Dr. Bhupinder Singh Saini, former chairman and founder of Advanced Pain Management, SC with several locations in Wisconsin, was the chief guest.

Rangla Punjab is the single largest annual Punjabi cultural event in the Chicago area that promotes the local community talent and showcases the Punjabi performing arts to a family audience for three decades.

"Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago volunteers train and provide a platform to the local Punjabi artists to nurture and grow their talents. New generation from age 6 years to seasoned artists 60 and over participated," said PCS chairman Nick Balwinder Singh.

"Rangla Punjab event helps Punjabi youth come closer to their heritage, Punjabi language, culture and community. This indeed is a great community building effort," said Bhupinder Singh Dhaliwal, PCS president. "I am proud of our most hardworking, dedicated, best ever PCS team."

The cultural event features colorful costumes, elegant postures of Bhangra and Giddha moves, mesmerizing rhythms of Jhumar, endless energy and fun-filled Malwai Gidha Boliaan, comedy skit, melodious songs, and more.

The program ended with a raffle drawn out of the attendees ticket stubs. An iPad, iPad Mini, and an Apple Watch were the prizes given to the winners.

PCS vice president Manjeet Singh Bhalla welcomed the attendees and started the evening program with the U.S. national anthem sung by Ragini Singh, followed by singing of Gurbani Shabad by Aneel Singh, Avar Singh and Dr. Amrit Singh Anand.

The evening event of 28 performance items was divided into three parts which included Punjabi folk dances Bhangra and Giddha, Punjabi folk music and songs and an hilarious comedy skit with a deeper message which moistened everyone's eyes.

The program was emceed by Ransher Singh Kaler, Seerat Kaur Kaler, Gurleen Kaur, Manpreet Kaur Bhalla and Simran Kaur Bhalla.

Learn more about the Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago at www.PCSChicago.org.