CHICAGO, Nov. 26, 2007
PCS
Rajinder Singh Mago
The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS) kept up it’s
tradition of enthusiastically participating in the 74th McDonald's
Thanksgiving parade held on the Thanksgiving Day Thursday November
22, 2007 on State Street downtown Chicago despite a freezing weather.
Celebrating its 74th year, the McDonald's® Thanksgiving Parade
is Chicago's premier holiday event. PCS was a part of more than
100 spectacular contingents proudly marching the parade route
North on State Street from Congress to Randolph Street.
"It's our fourth year in a row participating in this parade,
it gives our Indian community a great exposure in the mainstream,"
said PCS President Amarjit Kaur Atwal.
The parade was televised live on WGN Channel 9 from 9:00 a.m.
to 11:00 a.m. More than 1.5 million viewers were expected to have
watched.
"The theme of the PCS float sponsored by Mutual Bank this
year, and it's contingent was an Indian/Punjabi/Sikh wedding party
(Baraat), which included the Punjabi Dhol, Bhangra music and dance,"
said Mohinderjit Singh Saini the PCS parade coordinator.
“Youth Bhangra & Gidha troupes “Shaan Punjab
Dee”, & "Gidhey Dia Raania" showcased world
famous Punjabi folk dance "Bhangra" said Sunny Kular,
member board of governors of Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago.
“Kevindeep Atwal, Sunny Sekhon, and Ryan Singh played Punjabi
Dhol (drum) to keep the audiences involved and warmed up in the
18 degree F wind chill weather" said Ronny Kular, Vice President
of PCS Chicago.
“Overall it was a great exposure of our community in the
mainstream, we were on major TV channel, we need to keep it up
and do more,” said Rajinder Singh Mago co-founder of P.C.S..
Over 350,000 spectators cheered on the parade in person on the
street while an estimated 1.5 million at-home viewers watched
on TV the PCS float, gigantic helium balloons, marching school
bands, majestic equestrian units, fabulous specialty floats, spectacular
performance groups, national celebrities and local personalities.
Sher-A-Punjab restaurants provided complimentary lunch to the
P.C.S. participants.
Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (P.C.S.) is a non-profit
501 (c) 3 organization promoting education, good citizenship,
community development, civic commitment and involvement, and preserving
Punjabi Culture, language, sports and performing arts among its
community members and also mainstream Americans in the Midwest
and beyond. PCS caters to this need both by directly organizing
events that bring community members together from all over the
Midwest Region and by facilitating participation of its community
members in mainstream activities.