FREMONT, CA: The Punjab Cultural Society of Fremont, California held a fund raiser dinner/Punjab Night 93 today at the Flamingo Palace for the Punjabi Studies program at the Berkeley University. It was one of the most successful Punjabi cultural programs ever put together in California. The audience was spellbound for several hours while the young and charming Punjabi men and women gracefully performed Bhangrha and Gidha in its pure Punjabi form and “sang Punjabi folk songs.

Lala Dhani Ram Chatrik, a well-known Punjabi poet has said, “Jad raat channhi khirhdi hai, koi raag ihai shirhda hai/ Gidhe nu lohrha aunda hai, zoban te birha bhirhda hai”

And yes, it was a “Lohrha” (severity) of Gidha in which every Punjabi man and woman wants to indulge! Gidha and Bhangrha dances are the heart heats of every Punjabi. ‘The main organizers of this program were S.Balbir Singh Ragi, S.Surinder Singh Dhanoa, and S.Ramesh Singh Walia. S.Ramesh Singh Walia welcomed and thanked the audience for their commitment to the Punjabi language and culture and support. He thanked the officials of UC Berkeley for considering Punjabi a part of South Asian language program. In the beginning of the program a very impressive slide show was presented by Mani Kaur Dhanoa and Onkar Singh Dha showing pictures of great religious figures such as Guru Nanak, Bhai Gurdas, and Baba Fand who also made a very significant contribution to the Punjabi literature. The slides also consisted pictures of S. Sobha Singh, Bhai Vir Singh, Shiv Kumar Batalvi, Waris Shah, Bhai Gurdas, Bhai Santokh Singh, Surinder Kaur, Alam Luhar, and Gurdas Mann who have played a major role in shaping the Punjabi art, culture and literature in varying degrees.

Some Americans and Pakistanis were also present. The masters of ceremonies were Balbir Singh Ravi and Japinder Pal Kaur Dhanoa Balbir Singh Ragi is well-known for his “Charhdi Kala” (exalted spirit) and communications skills. He has been instrumental in putting together many such shows and other community projects. Japinder Pal Kaur Dhanoa, a charming young woman, is an excellent narrator, well-known Gidha dancer and well versed in Punjabi literature and culture.

Several Community leaders and Sikh dignitaries spoke briefly on this occasion. Notable among them were Dr.Ajitpal Singh Sandhu, Dr.Narinder Singh Kapany, and Baldev (Bill) Sekhon.

The spirit of the show was Surinder Singh Dhanoa, a handsome 6 ft. 3 tall young men who has been an excellent Bhangrha dancer in Punjab since his college days. He has a passion for Punjabi culture and language. His wile Japinder and their children Mani and Teginder Dhanoa also played significant roles in the entire program. The Bhangrha was directed by Surinder Singh Dhanoa, He was also the lead dancer.

There were many other contributors (musicians, dancers, etc.)Such as Satpal Singh Deol who is a well-known Punjabi singer. Teginder Singh Dhanoa, a handsome young man was the Dholi (drummer) who did a good job. Teginder learned how to beat a Dhol from the world-famous Bhangrha Dholi Lal Singh Bhatu who is also a very talented singer. A very delicious buffet style Punjabi dinner was served.

Could a Punjab Night be complete without Bhangrha by the audience? Well, there was a lot of Bhangrha which went on till midnight. Many people from the audience, even some very shy personalities slowly drifted towards the dance area and started to dance, it was really a case of, “Nachan valle di addi na rehndi, gaun valle da munh! Ni boli mein pawan nach gidhe vich tun!” “The heel of a dancer and the mouth of a singer cannot help but dance and sing. I will sing, my dear. And you dance in the Gidha.”

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 13, 1993