Page 26 - The Indian EYE 022522

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline FEBRUARY 25, 2022 | The Indian Eye 26

SWERA Team Proves Its Mettle Again with Yet

Another Historic Event Celebrating Lohri

OUR BUREAU
Chicago IL
WERA, an organization chang-
ing the lives of socio-econom-
Sically disadvantaged women,
hosted its annual Lohri festival cele-
brations on Feb 12th,2022 at Atlantis
Banquets, in Arlington Heights, IL.
The highlights of the event were the
beautiful cultural extravaganza put
together by the SWERA team led by
Jasbir Kaur Mann. Jasbir Kaur, who
was one of the anchors at the event
as well explained the significance of ternationally acclaimed artist Ani-
the Lohri festival and how the new ta Lerche, who is a Billboard Top-5
concept of gender equality needs to Charting award-winning singer and
be promoted and followed all over songwriter. She originates from Den-
the world. The festival of Lohri holds mark and currently lives in Indianap-
great significance as it marks the har- olis. Known as ‘Heer from Denmark’
vest of the rabi crops and the end of she was the first non-Asian woman
winter days. In Northern India, Lohri from the West to release an album
is usually celebrated with a bonfire. in Punjabi in 2006. After more than
The lighting of a bonfire during this a decade on the South Asian music
festival is an old tradition. Ancient scene she was honored to receive the
people lit the bonfire to welcome the ‘Special Contribution Award’ at the
return of longer days. UK Bhangra Awards, 2019. She also
The event was very well anchored won her Global Music Award ,2021
by Jasbir Kaur Mann, Nikki Sekhon, for Best Female Vocalist for her latest
Gurmukh Singh Bhullar, Jasbir S solo album “Love is my Religion”.
Sanghera and Paramvir Kaur. The SWERA provides a variety of ser-
event started with Shabad Kirtan by vices to the community that includes
the kids of Gurmat School followed group mentoring through seminars
by singing and dancing by many artists and workshops on awareness of charac-
from all over the Midwest. The event ter development, mental wellness and
was graced by Mr. Ranjit Singh from civil rights and providing basic needs
Indian Consulate in Chicago, who ad- like books, clothes and other neces-
dressed the audience and explained sary supplies for vocational education
the significance of the Lohri festivi- through support groups. It also facili-
ties and importance of preserving our tates training in women empowerment
cultural heritage. Other speakers at and collaboration with other nonprof-
the event were Satnam S Aulukh and it organizations to enhance skills for
Hemant Bhalla. entrepreneurship and employment.
The event also featured the in- --Asian Media USA

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