Hicksville, New York — May 30, 2026: The Preetnama Unity & Cultural Association (PUCA) successfully hosted its first event, “Punjabi Virsa,” at Levittown Hall. The program beautifully showcased the rich heritage of Punjab through various folk arts, music, and dance performances, captivating the audience.
The event delivered a powerful message of Indian unity and diversity. People from various communities attended, fostering a sense of mutual love and communal harmony.
Event Highlights
The evening was filled with cultural performances and educational elements. Key highlights included:
Traditional Performances: The Dhadhi Jatha of Bhai Mohan Singh Badhana, Tumbi performances, and Malwai Giddha (Bhabian da Bhangra) showcased the energy of traditional folk arts.
Cultural Showcase: A live Punjabi wedding culture show provided a unique experience of Punjabi rituals.
Youth Engagement: The “Gabru Punjab Da” and “Mutiar Punjab Di” competitions highlighted the talent and enthusiasm of Punjabi youth. Children aged 5–10 participated in a Punjabi quiz to demonstrate their cultural knowledge, with winners receiving beautiful prizes.
Anchoring: Ms. Sherry Dutta expertly anchored the program, keeping the audience engaged until the end with her beautiful poetry.
Honors and Awards
The event honored individuals who have made significant contributions to the community and Punjabi culture:
Virsa Ratan Award: Posthumously awarded to S. J.S. Premi (his family was present to receive the honor).
Nishkam Seva Award: S. Karamjit Singh Dhaliwal (for selfless service to Punjab welfare).
Maan Punjab Da Award: Harry Singh Bhola.
Punjab Sahit Ratan Award: Dr. Shashikant Uppal (for literary contributions).
Kalam Punjab Di Award: Dr. R.D. Sethi.
Unity Run Ambassador Award: Dr. Avtar Singh Tina (for organizing 5K runs).
Kala Virasat Award: Balwinder Singh Bajwa (Virsa promoter).
Virsa Vikas Award: The historical Vaisakhi Mela team (Onkar Singh, Rajiv Maini, Deepak Bansal, Jai Jasbir Singh, and Mani Singh).
Bhangra Legend Award: Bhangra legend Chhatarpal Singh.
Community Service Honors: Young achievers Anshdeep Singh, Navneet Sikka, Jessica Kalra, and Arshdeep Kaur were honored for their service.
Distinguished Guests and Media Presence
The event was attended by notable personalities including Commissioner Bobby Kalote, Dilip Chauhan, Garry Sikka, Babali Sikka, and Mohinder Singh Taneja.
Representatives from Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar, Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Center (Plainview, NY), and Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur (Glen Cove, NY) were also in attendance.
The event received extensive coverage from media outlets, including G Punjabi (CEO Hirish Goyal and Renu Goyal), Radio Zindagi (Sunil Hali), 5aab TV (Manish Behl), Sanjha Punjab, The Indian Panorama (Professor Inderjit Singh Saluja), and the Preetnama media team.
A Note of Appreciation
The PUCA team, along with the Punjab State team—including Pritpal Kaur, Sanju Sharma, Harvinder Bhatia, Jassi Dhillon, Anju Sharma, Bobby Bhasin, TJ Anand, Pardeep Tadon, Vimal Goyal, View Dhillon, Seema Mattu, Jyoti Gupta, Jag Kalra, Ashwani Beri, Neeru Beri, Yogini, Somender Gautam, Archna Gautam, Neeru Bhambari, Anil Gupta, Balwant, Jaswinder Singh, Manpreet Kaur, Sujan Nag, Jaswinder Kaur, Vijay Khanna, and Rajinder Taneja—set a great example of teamwork.
MC Sherry Dutta welcomed the guests, stating that the Preetnama Unity & Cultural Association (PUCA) is dedicated to preserving and promoting Indian culture and connecting the community to its roots.
The committee also extended special thanks to VK Sarpanch and Anu Thaper for the beautiful decorations that captured the essence of Punjab, as well as Naveen Sah (Navika Group), Tara Singh Ahluwalia, and the family of the late J.S. Premi for their contributions.
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