"Rangla Punjab 2010" celebrates Vaisakhi festival

Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago President Rajinder Singh Mago addressing the audience at "Rangla Punjab 2010," a Vaisakhi celebration cultural program organized by Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago on April 10 at Lane Tech High School Auditorium in Chicago. More than 1500 attended

More than 1500 community members and over 200 participants, program coordinators and volunteers of all ages from metropolitan Chicago, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan converged upon Lane Tech High School Auditorium to celebrate Vaisakhi festival at "Rangla Punjab 2010" show on April 10, 2010. Major (retd.) Gurcharan Singh Jhaj was the chief guest. Ex state Senator Dan Rutherford was a guest of honor.

The cultural evening started with a prayer shabad by Sikh Youth of Chicago followed by an amazing assortment of breathtaking cultural performances transported the auditorium to the wheat farms of Punjab. A magnificently decked-up stage and Punjabi background music provided the perfect setting. Bhangra music, dhol beats, gidda boliyaan, an amalgamation of myriad colors of costumes, youthful spirit and rocking performances electrified the auditorium.

Melo-drama "Shaheed Bhagat Singh" presented at "Rangla Punjab 2010."

"Rangla Punjab" is the flagship annual event of Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS) www.PCSChicago.org. This is the single largest Punjabi community cultural annual event in Chicago area, in existence for more than a quarter of a century. It is designed to preserve, propagate and promote Punjabi performing arts Bhangra, Gidha, songs, drama and music to the next generation of the local Punjabi American community and provide a platform to show case their talent.

Punjabi Youth Club of Milwaukee Bhangra team, Indianapolis "Bhangra Element" group, Milwaukee Gidha, "Teeyan Chicago Diyaan", "Gajde Punjabi" from Milwaukee, "Nakhra Punjabana Da" from Milwaukee, "Nachdiyan Gulzaraan", and University of Chicago "Balle Bhangra" group rendered state of the art mind blowing performances one after the other till midnight.

A short musical play with a hairraising social message "Shaheed Bhagat Singh" was presented by Gurbinder Singh Khehra and Preet Randhawa of Michigan.

Surinder Singh Sangha Finance Secretary of P.C.S. Chicago welcomed the audience. The program was anchored by, Amarjit Kaur Atwal, Raman Kaur Sekhon, Balwinder Singh Girn, and Manjit Singh Gill. Paul Lail introduced the PCS officials. Corporate VP & CMO for Cultural Markets, New York Life,  

New York Life’s TV Campaign Nominated For Emmy Award 

Corporate VP & CMO for Cultural Markets, New York Life, Ashwin K Verma directing the commercial.

A New York Life Insurance Company television campaign geared toward the Asian-Indian community has been nominated for a New York Emmy Award. The four-commercial campaign, "Life is Beautiful with…The Company You Keep" aired in the United States last year. The campaign is one of the four nominated to win this prestigious award. This is the fourth New York Emmy nomination for New York Life’s Asian- Indian Market Division. The first was in 2007 with the "Elephant" campaign that featured a group of Indian children interacting with a baby elephant. Last year the entire five-commercial campaign and one of the commercials The Watchman were nominated for the award.

The underlying message of the campaign is that ‘the Company You Keep,’ New York Life, is there with you to help fulfill your dreams, ensuring that you have the opportunity for a beautiful life.

The award is given by The New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NY NATAS), the preeminent membership organization serving the television industry dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. Winners will be announced at the 53nd Annual New York Emmy Awards black tie gala on April 18, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square.

New York Life Insurance Company is highly regarded in the Asian-Indian community, with more agents of Asian Indian descent serving the community than any other insurance company in the United States. Since its inception in 1996, New York Life’s Asian Indian market division has become "the Company of the Community" for Asian Indians. New York Life Insurance Company, a Fortune 100 company founded in 1845, is the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States and one of the largest life insurers in the world.

BAPS CHARITIES DONATES $47,000 FOR HAITI RELIEF

The start of a fantastic partnership, one that will help save the lives of thousands of children around the world. BAPS Charities donated $47,000 to the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, launching the first-ever partnership between the two NGOs. The volunteers of BAPS Charities - children, youth, and adults - came together to raise funds for those suffering in Haiti. During the aftermath of this earthquake, BAPS Charities partnered with UNICEF to provide aid and protection for children who lost their family and friends. Together, they constructed over 400 camps for the displaced individuals in the affected areas. These camps provide children with education, protection, and health care services.

This earthquake, the worst in this region in 200 years, destroyed over 3,000 educational facilities and caused grave damage to government buildings and hospitals throughout the country. The efforts of

BAPS Charities and UNICEF have brought clean water to individuals living in remote areas, improved sanitation conditions to prevent the spread of disease, and provided ‘baby tents,’ a safe place for mothers to breastfeed. BAPS Charities is known for its excellence in providing disaster relief services and ongoing humanitarian care for children. In 2001, after the Gujarat earthquake, its volunteers reached Kutch within minutes of the first quake. They helped rescue individuals buried in the rubble, regularly fed hot meals to victims and volunteers, provided minute necessities like nail cutters, and rebuilt schools, homes, and communities. During Hurricane Katrina and Ike, to help people survive this catastrophe, BAPS Charities volunteers again served hot meals, provided people with clothing, and offered counseling. The natural calamity in Haiti has again provided an opportunity for BAPS Charities to engage tens of thousands of its volunteers to work alongside UNICEF to make a difference in our world.