CHICAGO–PCS Night 2008 Dinner and Dance Banquet, held on Nov. 8 at the Waterford Banquets and Convention Center in Elmhurst suburb here, drew a thousand Punjabi and local guests.

The 7th International Bhangra and Gidha Dance Competition, organized by Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS), attracted students and professionals from across the country, and also from Canada.

"I am pleased to see that our cultural heritage has taken root in this country,” said Dr. Bhupinder Singh Saini after he saw some 250 contestants. Dr. and Mrs. Saini of Advance Pai Management of Milwaukee Wisconsin were the special guests and the event’s Grand Sponsors.

“I am deeply impressed at the Punjabi talent here. I have never seen anything like this before,” said Susan Shin, Director of Asian Affairs Office of the Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich.

"We are humbled by such an out pouring of support from our community and the competing teams,” said Amarjit Kaur Atwal, the outgoing P.C.S. president. Ronny S. Kular is the new president. Harinder Paul Singh, president of Management & Information Technology Solutions, Inc. (MITS), is incoming P.C.S. chairman.

Rajinder Singh Mago was P.C.S. Chicago International Bhangra and Gidha competition coordinator. Paul Lail represented outgoing chairman Jarnail Singh Lail, who was in India.

Winners

Contestants included 16 Bhangra and Gidha teams from Cornell University New York, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Georgia, Emory University Atlanta, University of Southern California San Diego, Washington DC, Dallas Texas, Milwaukee Wisconsin, California, Michigan, Toronto and Vancouver Canada..

The emcees were Manjit Singh Gill, a Chicago Indian and Punjabi radio host, and Rajinder Singh Mago, PCS member of the board of governors.

"Surrey India Arts Club" Bhangra dance team from Vancouver, won first place and $3,500 cash award. The second place trophy with a cash award of $1,500, sponsored by Harinder Paul Singh, went to “Nachde Shokeen” Bhangra Vancouver. "Bull Dawg Da Raj" team from Georgia won the third place trophy and $1,000 cash sponsored by Dr. Gurbachan Singh.

In the collegiate category, “Bull Dawg Da Raj of Georgia placed first; “Karma Bhangra” of Emory University Atlanta Georgia was second and “Cornell Kudiyan” of Cornell University New York placed third. "H.K Gidha," a Gidha dance team from Dallas won the championship trophy and $3,500 cash award. "Raunak Vehre Di" from Vancouver, won the 2nd place and $1,500 cash award sponsored by Mohina and Diljit Ahluwalia. "Koonjan," a Gidha team from Toronto, won 3rd place and $1,000.