Dayton (Ohio): The 12th Annual Culture Fest of Springfield (Ohio) served up music, dancing, food, information and activities from around the globe. Several thousand turned out for the free event and encountered an electric array of live music acts on two stages, 61 booths featuring traditional cuisine and crafts from a variety of cultures: Indian, Greek, Chinese and many more. The choices also included Mexican, Greek, Indian and Italian foods; bluegrass, jazz and Andean music; and African, Indian and Celtic dancers. Punjabis living in the Springfield and Dayton area celebrated this song and dance festival by exhibiting Gidha and Bhangra. Springfield city Mayor Mr. Warren Copeland inaugurated the event. He said he hasn’t missed a year and wished more people would attend the event. In the twelve years the city has mounted the event, there has always been more capacity than visitors. The Sikh group booth was awarded First Place for the Best Educational Content. S Avtar Singh Springfield and his son Karanvir Singh received the first place prize.
After the inauguration by Springfield city Mayor Copeland, Punjabi dance was performed by young kids:
Ravjot Kaur, Manpreet Singh, Gurinder Singh, Kamaldeep Kaur and Balraj Singh followed by Bhangra from Karanvir Singh, Gulshan Singh and Taranjeet Singh and others. The onlookers were so impressed with the Bhangra and Gidha display that they could not resist themselves in joining with the Punjabis at the rhythm of the Dhol.
Various booths were setup by different communities such as Mexican, African, Celtic, Chinese, Indian, Italian, and Greeks. S Avtar Singh and his family, resident of Springfield supported by other members of Sikh community organized the Punjabi booth. In the stall, Punjabi artifacts such as spinning wheel (Charkha), churner (Madhani), seat chair (Peerhee), grinding stone (Atta chaki), harmonium, hand drum (Damru), Punjabi Tong (Chimta) were displayed. To create awareness about the Sikhs and turban in context of Indian culture, pictures and posters about “Who are the Sikhs and their Beliefs” and “Tying of the Turban” were displayed. Pictures of Golden Temple and Sri Guru Granth Sahib were also displayed and explained their significance. Dr. Darshan Singh Sehbi, Dr Kuldip Singh Rattan, Daljit Singh Deol, Piara Singh Sembhi, Sameep Singh Gumtala, Sarabjeet Kaur, Jasmel Kaur and Sawarnjit Singh Pannu and many others also participated in various activities.
Shannon Meadows, the city's community development director, was on hand, wearing a tie-dyed Culture-Fest shirt. Her participation in planning the event, she said, was limited to showing up, smiling and having fun. In less than two weeks, her staff will begin planning for next year's Culture Fest. "Every year it's gotten more and more popular," she said. Police chief Steve Moody, Sherriff Gene Kelly, was also present. Americans enjoyed Punjabi food from Jeet India.
