ROSEVILLE,CA: Kohinoor Club, a year old service organization, organized Vaisakhi Mela at Roseville on May 8, 1994, Over 3,000 people from Sacramento, Roseville, Yuba City and Bay Area participated in the Mela that was held at highly decorated Placer County Fairgrounds in Roseville. This Mela was one of its kinds in California and its uniqueness was reflected from its setting in the open grounds, it provided fun for entire families for an entry fee of $1. Children had great fun in playing the wheel of fortune, dart balloons, shooting gallery and many other games, the little kids had fun jumping high in castle party jump, an inflatable castle. Women enjoyed shopping. There were cloth and various other kinds of gift shops. Among food’ shops, there were non-vegetarian and vegetarian thali, dosa, gol gappa, bar-b-que, hotdog and sweet shops. ‘The venders made good money, one of them said he made over $500, City of Roseville and local vendors of automobiles had also set up their displays.
There was 5 hour cultural program. In addition to local artists professional singers such as Pwnam A. Kaura, Pala Pharwala, Satnam Bath and Tarlochan Singh also participated. The programs included skits, dances, bhangra and gidha.
There was a considerable American crowd. A 5 minute of turban tying art was shown on the stage. Navtej Singh Riar tied a Gurdaspurian turban on Julian Harvey, an American, A major highlight of the Mela was an exhibition Punjab Culture. This exhibit had displays of various items such as handmade rugs phulkari, charkha, toka etc. in addition to posters displays.
Chief Guest, Dr. Ajit Pal Singh Sandhu, commended Kohinoor Club on their efforts to serve the community. Especially in promoting the culture of Panjab Permit Randhawa, President of Kohinoor Club, announced that Vaisakhi Mela will be held every year and that a.$1,000 award will be given 10 someone who puts up the best exhibit on Punjab at the next Vaisakhi Mela, on April 29, 1995.
Kohinoor Club is a nonprofit organization, devoted to serve the community. Some of the projects that this organization has worked on are helping Indians that were victims of LA Earthquake, establishing “bright kid program” that awards kids that perform best at school. The club is also committed to provide help to widows, provide citizenship training to older people, guidance to potential immigrants in adjusting their status, Funds raised from the Mela will be used toward these service projects.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 10, 1994
