Eleventh Punjabi American Festival in Yuba City – PAHS Press Release

Contact person: Hitpal Singh Deol, Phone number 530-632-4965
Email: Punjabiamerican@comast.net
Web Site: Punjabiamericanheritagesociety.com

The Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds will host more than 15, 000 people Sunday, May 29th during the 11th Annual International Punjabi American Festival. Sponsored by the Punjabi American Heritage Society of Yuba City, the festival is a way for those with Punjabi roots to celebrate and share their culture with fellow Americans.

Date: Sunday, May 29th, 2005
Time: 11:00 am to 8 pm
Location: Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds, Yuba City

The Punjabi American Heritage Society was founded in 1993 with the purpose of creating a better understanding amongst different people living in this area and to educate children about their ancestral roots. In the past twelve years, many events have been organized to improve awareness and to educate fellow Americans.

At this year’s festival, hundreds of local performing artists, including students from California schools, colleges and universities, will perform traditional Punjabi dances such as Bhangra, Giddha, Jhumar, Malwai Giddha, Gujarati and Mexican dances. In addition, vendors will be on hand providing many Punjabi and South Asian delicacies.

This year’s festival will also highlight performances by internationally acclaimed artists, Jassi Sidhu from UK, Lehmbhar Singh Hussianpuri and Balvir Boparai from Punjab, India.

Festival will also feature award winning documentary “Continuous Journey” by Ali Kazimi from Canada. On May 23rd, 1914, the Japanese shipping vessel Komagata Maru, chartered by Sikh businessman Gurdit Singh, arrived in Canada’s Vancouver Harbor. Aboard were 376 migrants of Indian origin, citizens of the British Empire who believed it their right to move and settle freely within its domain. Upon anchoring, however, the passengers were prevented from disembarking by local Canadian officials, whose decision reflected a growing nationwide resistance to non-white immigration. This refusal to allow the Indian passengers ashore galvanized the nascent Vancouver Indian community, fueling an outbreak of support for their countrymen and trapped without provisions for over two months, aboard a ship anchored only a heartbreaking half-mile from shore.

For more information please call Siri Pritam Kaur Khalsa @ 530-632-5315 for sponsorships, Satnam Tatla @ 530-315-1248 for booths and exhibits, Hardeep S Dhadli @ 530-682-2102 for tickets and for participation may send email to Punjabifestival2005@yahoo.com