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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                                   MAY 08, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 28

            American Punjabi Society Celebrates Vaisakhi with

               Grandeur, Unity, and Distinguished Participation

                  Consul General of India Binaya Srikanta Pradhan Joins Celebrations

            OUR BUREAU

            Mineola, NY
                  he historic Theodore Roos-
                  evelt Executive and Legislative
            TBuilding came alive with vi-
            brant energy, cultural pride, and com-
            munity spirit as the American Punjabi
            Society (APS), in collaboration with
            Bruce A. Blakeman, the Consulate
            General of India, New York, the Of-
            fice of the Chairman, Human Rights
            Commission, and the Nassau Coun-
            ty  Office  of  Asian  American  Affairs,
            hosted a grand celebration of Vaisakhi
            — the sacred Khalsa Sajna Diwas and
            Punjabi harvest festival.
                The event commenced under the
            leadership of Mr. Own Naqvi, Direc-
            tor of the Office of Asian American
            Affairs, setting a warm and dignified
            tone for the evening. Mr. Bobby Ka-                            All the Awardees with County Executive Hon. Bruce Blakeman
            lotee, Chairman of the Human Rights
            Commission, played an important
            role as one of the organizers.
                The celebration was further hon-
            ored by the presence of Consul Gen-
            eral of India Hon’ble Ambassador
            Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, whose par-
            ticipation underscored the strong cul-
            tural and diplomatic ties between India
            and the Indian American community.
                The event brought together elect-
            ed  officials,  dignitaries,  and  commu-
            nity  leaders,  reflecting  the  shared
            values of unity, gratitude, and seva.
                Led by APS Global President
            Gary S. Sikka and Founder Patron
            Harry Singh Bolla, the evening began
            with warm hospitality, including appe-  APS President Gary Sikka & Ravinder Sikka with Ambassador Binaya Srikanta Pradhan  APS Global President Gary Sikka
            tizers and refreshments served prior
            to the formal program.            pressed appreciation for APS’s role in  Sikka elaborated on the broader mes-  livered an insightful address on the
                APS General Secretary V.P.S. Sik-  promoting unity, diversity, and com-  sage of Vaisakhi as not only a religious   religious  significance  of  Vaisakhi,
            ka opened the program with an over-  munity engagement.             and cultural celebration but also a   highlighting the historic importance
            view of APS’s initiatives and ongoing   APS Founder Patron Harry Singh   call to action for community build-  of Khalsa Sajna Diwas and its endur-
            community service efforts.        Bolla reflected on the profound spiri- ing and service. He reaffirmed APS’s   ing message of equality, courage, and
                The program featured a dignified   tual and historical significance of Vai- commitment to strengthening cultural   service.
            Presentation of Colors, followed by vi-  sakhi as the birth of the Khalsa and a  identity, engaging youth, and building   The presence of Consul General
            brant cultural performances including   defining moment in Sikh history. He   bridges across communities through   of India Hon’ble Ambassador Binaya
            traditional bhangra and giddha, along   emphasized that Vaisakhi serves as a  meaningful initiatives, while promot-  Srikanta Pradhan added special sig-
            with presentations highlighting the   powerful reminder of the core values   ing unity and collaboration within the   nificance to the event, reinforcing the
            significance of Vaisakhi.         of faith, courage, equality, and selfless   diverse Indian American community.  global importance of Vaisakhi and
                Nassau County Executive Bruce   service (seva), and highlighted the   Prominent oncologist and Padma   strengthening ties between India and
            A. Blakeman acknowledged the sig-  importance of preserving these tradi- Bhushan awardee Dr. Nori also ad-  its diaspora.
            nificant  contributions  of  the  Punjabi   tions while passing them on to future  dressed the gathering.  The celebration was attended by
            community to the cultural and so-  generations.                         Jathedar of Takht Sri Keshgarh   numerous  elected  officials,  commu-
            cial fabric of Nassau County and ex-  APS Global President Gary S.  Sahib, Professor Manjeet Singh, de-      Continued on next page... >>

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