By K.B.NAIR

LA MIRADA, CA - The Punjabi Community Center (PCC) which is dedicated to enriching Punjabi life and culture through education, community involvement and promotion of the performing arts, continued its course by organizing an excellent “ Vaisakhi 2009 Celebration” on May 10 at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, here. It was a show of a community pulling together to bring out the best talent and it did not disappoint the sizeable audience which participated in the event, enjoying dance and drama, presented by a huge contingent of  tiny tots, teens, youngsters and adults which lasted for several hours.

Those in charge of conducting the show need to be complimented for the manner in which the items followed in quick succession , one after the other. It was by no means  easy considering there were 35 items included in the program. There was not a single moment lost and there was never an occasion the audience was kept waiting with the curtains down.

The evening commenced with a devotional invocation, the shabad performed by a group of young girls of PCC, singing to the accompaniment of  a quartet of harmoniums and a tabla after which the flood gates were thrown open to joyful dance and merriment, both on and off the stage. As expected it was the bhangra which dominated  with over 50% of the dance items belonging to this genre of  folk art. It comprised performances by the tiniest of tots, school level children and teens with each team bearing interesting names like, Bhangra Brats,  Blast, Bache, Park  and  Bilo Rani’s, No Problem, Ujjal’s Sitaarey, Nakhre Kudiyan De, Punjab Da Lishkara  and more. With no trophy at stake every team performed at their spirited best which was infectious and soon caught up with the audience which demonstrated its appreciation with ear piercing screams and screeches at the conclusion of every.

In sharp contrast to the vigorous bhangra, in between there were also graceful and colorful giddha performances by children and teens. Particularly attractive was the one presented by the VST Gidha Girls of Valley Sikh temple in which the stage was filled to overflowing with spectacularly costumed dancers  painting a kaleidoscope of  colors set in a rural Punjabi scene including  a couple of girls  twirling a  spinning wheel.

The fare also included a charmingly choreographed bharata natyam piece by a team of dancers from the Nityashetra Dance School. Further variety came in the form of  attractive Bollywood numbers and semi-classical film pieces showcased by teams such as Move Bollywood, Bollywood Beauties of PCC and the Nityashetra Dance School which put up “ Jai Ho.” Not to be outdone by their offspring the parents  showed they can match their younger counterparts with a lively bhangra interpretation of their own under their banner Aashiqui Punjab Di.

Providing some breathing time between the relentless Punjabi rhythm and beats  were two skits performed in small segments. One , directed by Sonia Singh and written by a group of parents related the awkward yet comedic situation when a family from Punjab suddenly decides to visit its relatives in Los Angeles with just a week’s notice for a stay of 6 months. The other written and directed by Makhan Singh and his group related to Indians arriving in the US who attempt to get a job in the transport  business by joining a trucking school. 

Certificates of Recognition were presented to Guest of Honor was the Chairman of the Walnut Gurdwara, Gurbax Singh Bhasin who received his certificate from Jagtar Singh, Baldev Singh Sidhu and Dr  Harvinder Sahota. Past President  of the Lankershim Gurdwara, Sohan Singh Chowdhary was presented his certificate by Grand Sponsor Vijay Khosla of the Natraj Group of Restaurants. PCC Ladies Tashi Singh, Sharmila Sidhu and Baljit Grewal handed the recognition to Nina Kapoor for her work in the field of  bone marrow donations and transplants.