CHICAGO: Over 1200 people attended the 8th Annual Asian American Coalition of Chicago’s Lunar New Year Celebration in the new Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency O’Hare.
Every year a different community takes tums playing host and this year it was the Chinese community.
Lunar New Year is traditionally the single largest organized annual event in Chicago’s Asian American community which numbers about 260000 and Sikh Americans are part of it. on hand to share the spirit were Illinois Governor Jim Edgar Mayor Richard M. Daley U.S. Senator Paul Simon U.S. District Attorney Fred Foreman Cook County State’s Attorney Jack O’Malley Cook County Board President Richard Phelan Cook County Commissioner Richard Siebel Cook County Clerk David Orr members of the Asian diplomatic corps and many other local dignitaries including numerous aldermanic candidates. Nearly 100 Sikh Americans of Chicago were in the audience.
The gala opened with a large-scale original musical drama “Start with the Children” which featured approximately 80 Asian American artists including Sikh Americans 18 children and a 7-piece live band. The production showcased “Wu Hsing” (which means “Five Elements’ in Chinese)
An East-West story based on the old Asian theory of the universe that says that everything relates to five elements (earth fire water wood and metal) was directed by local artist and director model actor and “Asia Today” reporter Quincy Wong. It also featured Rajinder Singh Mago. The production was completed by colorful and grand Asian costumes and a 4-foot ice sculpture of a Ram.
Dr. Chang Lin-Tien Chancellor of the University of California at Berkeley gave the keynote address along the event’s theme line “Together we can.” U.S. Senator Paul Simon presented community service awards to nine outstanding community leaders” including one Sikh American Rajinder Singh Mago.
The evening was coemceed by WLS-TV anchor/reporter Linda Yu and WGN-TV reporter Joanie Lum. In closing ceremonies the Coalition announced that the Pakistani American community will host next year’s Celebration. Rashid A. Chaudary will serve as chair.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 5, 1991
