Bhagat Puran Singh Birthday Celebrated in Chicago.

Punjabi Virsa enthralls audience in Chicago.

PHO’s Tribute to World famous Punjabi Folk Singers Surinder Kaur and Kulwinder Dhillon.

by Dr.Harjinder Singh Khaira 

Chicago land’s pioneer cultural organization Punjabi Heritage Organization of Chicago (PHO) celebrated its 15^th anniversary by organizing a cultural extravaganza with live music and singing by world famous Punjabi Folk singers Manmohan Waris and Kamal Heer, Music director Sangtar Heer and the orchestra team of Punjabi Virsa 2006 under the banner of Punjabi Night 2006. This program was dedicated to Nightingale of Punjab, the late Bibi Surinder Kaur and late Kulwinder Singh Dhillon-another notable young Punjabi Folk singer.

This program was held at North Shore Center for the Performing arts in Skokie. The hit numbers of Manmohan Waris and Kamal Heer who has performed worldwide in a traditional style folk singing and is contributing a lot towards Punjabi Culture, language and performing arts mesmerized audience. 

The program started with a welcome speech by Tony Sanghera, followed by words of tribute to Late Surinder Kaur and Late Kulwinder Singh Dhillon in their memory by Gurmukh Singh Bhullar. He highlighted the contributions of both artists to Punjabi Culture and heritage. 30 seconds silence was observed to pay tributes to the both the late singers. 

President Kirpal Singh Randhawa thanked and welcomed the entire guest who came from all over the Midwest to support and listen to their favorite singers. 

Cultural Program started with brief, humble but impressive introduction by Sangtar of his brother Kamal Heer. He invited him to come on the stage and perform his hit numbers. Kamal Heer had an energetic and thumping performance that prompted audience to go on their feet and started Bhangra. He sang some of his new releases along with some hits from the past. He started with ‘Eh Tan Tera, Eh Man Tera, Sada Tere Hukam Da Karan Satkar Dateya’ as prayer followed by “Kuriye Ni Saggi Phul Valiye”, “Beth Ke Trinjana Ch Sohniyen”, “Gith Lami Dhon Valiye” were some of the favorite hits. His new song  ‘Badi Lukai Ishq Di Booti Pher Vi Mehak Khind Gayee’, “Mere Kolon Hal tera Puchaya Gaya, Tere Kolon VI Sohinye Has ho Gaya”, received thunderous applause from the audience. He taunted the singers who sung with computer music by saying “Tabla, Dhol, Guitar Waleyo, Sidhe Karlo Saaj, CD Di Sanu Lorh Nahi Daata Rakhu Laaj.” 

There was a brief ceremony for the sponsors to be honored and recognized at the stage before the next singer. Chief Guest of the evening was prominent businessman Mr. Sunny Dhoorh and his wife Neerja from Michigan. Mr. Dhoorh has been proclaimed with “Man of the Year” award by the state of Michigan recently. He gave the appreciation awards to all the sponsors and distinguished guests. He also appreciated the efforts by PHO in doing cultural and social activities for the community. 

“Best Supporter of the Year” award was bestowed upon to Balwinder Singh Sandhu - a prominent gasoline retailer who has helped generously towards organization’s activities from last few years.  

Jaswinder Singh Bajwa of the world famous website “SadaPunjab.com” was honored for his dedicated services to promote Punjabi Culture. 

Program was sponsored by Darshan Singh Darar and Pritpal Singh Ghotra of Five Rivers Entertainment Indianapolis, Kulwant Singh, Jarnail Singh, Manjinder Bhambra (Combined Oil), Abtinder Singh Chawla, Manjinder Singh, Jatinder Rana (All Michigan), Menjinder Singh Bhambra of Combined Oil, Harjinder Singh Sandhu of Sandhu Petroleum, Raj Judge (Matrix Packaging), Punjabi Americans Youth Club Indiana, Nick and Carol Gakhal of All States Transport, Balwinder Singh of A-One carpets, Davinder Singh Rangi of R&S Petroleum, Rangla Punjab Organization Milwaukee, Paul Gill, Indermohan Singh Chhabra, Parveen Bhardwaj, Sikh Cultural Society of South Bend Indiana, Punjabi Americans Organization of Chicago, Harkirat Singh Sandhu, Amrik Singh of Amar Carpets, Major Singh Mauji and Dr. Harjinder Singh Khaira of Lake Street Dental. 

Last year’s President Tejinder Singh Minhas was honored for his services towards organization. 

Kirpal Singh Randhawa and board of directors of PHO presented special mementos to the Chief Guest Sunny Dhoorh. Narinderpal Singh Marwaha of PHO presented Gutka of Sukhmani Sahib to Neerja Saini. 

The program started again with the World-renowned Folk singer Manmohan Waris who has multiple albums under his belt. He started his half of the program by paying tributes to Shaheed Udham Singh.  With ‘Jina Akhan Mout Nal Layeein.’ Followed by ‘Prades Na Bhul Jana Pind Wala Chubara’ ‘Koka Karke Dhokha’, ‘Hatke Kharhi Harnam Kurey’, ‘Punjabi Shera’, ‘Ikali Baith Ke Sochi Ni, Aasi Ki Nahi Kita Tere Layee’ was some of his hit numbers which mesmerized the audience. Manmohan Waris is very much influenced by Dhadi Waaraan of Dhadi Amar Singh Shounki. He is also married in Shounki village. He never forgets to sing Amar Singh Shounki’s famous songs “Aaja Bhabhi Jhut Ley”,  “Do Tara Wajda Ve” during his performances.  Paying tributes to late Kulwinder Dhillon he remembered the days he spent with Mr. Dhillon. 

PHO board of directors presented special mementos to the star singers. Manmohan Waris received memento on behalf of his both brothers Sangtar and Kamal Heer. 

Jaswinder Singh Sandhu coordinated all the Midwest shows for Punjabi Virsa 2006. 

Darshan Singh Darar and Pritpal Singh of Five Rivers Entertainment recognized Manmohan Waris, Kamal Heer and Sangtar Heer with Gold medals and $2100. 

Program was made possible by hard work of the team under the presidency of Kirpal Singh Randhawa. Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, Kulwant Singh Nagra, Lakhbir Singh Sandhu, Dr. Gulroop Singh Hansra, Neetoo Kahlon, Narinderpal Singh Marwaha, Paramjit Singh Sangha, Kamaljit Singh Virdi, Tony Sanghera, Tejinder Singh Minhas, Mohinderjit Singh Rakalla, Mickey Kahlon, Maninder Singh Aulakh, Jasbir Singh Sahota and Sunny Judge worked very hard to make it a successful show. 

PHO’s main aim of the night was to promote and portray rich Punjabi culture. The organizers of this event put a lot of hard work into making this years show a reality, but without the audience and financial support of our community members such events would not be possible.  

PHO is a non-profit community organization dedicated to promote Punjabi cultural heritage, sports and social events in mid-western United States. For more information please write to Punjabi Heritage Organization, P. O. Box 2556, Palatine, IL 60078, and Email at info@phochicago.org  or visit web at www.phochicago.org

Bibi Dr. Inderjit Kaur honored with Bhagat Puran Singh Memorial Award.

 “Bhagat Puran Singh was a man full of compassion, love, affection, caring towards ailing and needy human beings and I salute him for his dedicated services for the human race” These were the words of tribute paid by Professor Jaginder Singh Ramdev at the Birthday celebration of Bhagat Puran Singh at Gurdwara Sahib Palatine. He also requested the congregation to donate generously towards Pingalwara.

 It was first time in America that Bhagat Puran Singh Ji’s birthday was celebrated at such a high scale. Chicagoland’s Pioneer organization Punjabi Heritage Organization (PHO) who took this initiative, celebrated this day and also bestowed an award on Bhagat Ji name for the second year in a row.

 This event was well attended by people of all walks of life.

Bibi Abnash Kaur, President of Pingalwara Society of Ontario (Canada) and S. Gurcharan Singh Ahuja from Cleveland Ohio, who has been very instrumental in supporting the causes of Pingalwara attended this function and paid rich tributes to Bhagat Ji life. They also explained the good deeds and the noble charity work that he has done in his lifetime. They gave a bird’s eye view of Pingalwara development from a one man’s small hut to worldwide organization, which looks after thousands of handicapped, mentally retarded people without any kind of distinction.

 Today Pingalwara stands stronger than ever on a foundation of love and tender care for humanity for their better and healthy life. They also emphasized the environmentalist aspect of his life and cited how he will even pick a nail from the road and garbage around the streets to make this earth cleaner and better place to live. He was worried about trees being chopped irresponsibly around without any plan to replant new tree. Thus keeping his dream alive almost 15000 trees are planted every year in Schools in Punjab to preserve the natural ecological balance. For more information on Pingalwara please visit www.Pingalwaraonline.org.

.Pingalwara has numerous institutions these days in different parts of Punjab where special care is given to poor and needy. They also participate and help in relief efforts of the Natural disaster victims.

Bibi Abnash Kaur laid out the life story of Bhagat Puran Singh and asked the SGPC and Punjab Govt. to publish a Book on his life and even construct Hospitals and Schools dedicating to his life. Both Bibi Abnash Kaur and Gurcharan Singh Ahuja congratulated Punjabi Heritage Organization on this noble endeavor for taking this step to remember and honor Bhagat Ji life.

 Sadh Sangat, Sikh Religious Society of Chicago, and Punjabi Heritage Organization collectively made efforts to make this program a mega success. Sangat was present in huge number and outpoured their generous donations towards Pingalwara and surprised the organizers by their overwhelming support and thus exceeding the goals by three folds.

 Bhagat Puran Singh Award that was started last year was given this year to Bibi Inderjit Kaur who is presiding over Pingalwara all over the World. Bibi Abnash Kaur received the award on her behalf. Photo exhibition was displayed on this day showcasing different projects done by Pingalwara.

 PHO initiated this project last year and then pledge to continue to ensure the success of this event every year worked very hard with PHO to ensure the success of the program. Jairam Singh Kahlon and Narinderpal Singh Marwaha worked tremendously hard in coordinating this event. Satnam Singh Aulakh conducted the stage. Different Ragi Jathas recited the Kirtan preaching services to humanity