Schaumburg, Illinois, September 9, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS) participated in the September Fest Labor Day Parade in Schaumburg, Illinois, on Monday, September 7, marking its first participation in the annual parade.
PCS regularly takes part in major community parades in the Chicago area, including the Chicago Thanksgiving Day, Memorial Day and Fourth of July parades.
For its Labor Day Parade presentation, PCS chose to honour notable Punjabis of global repute who have made significant contributions in science, technology, public service, sports and other fields, including Nobel Prize laureates.
Images and achievements of the Punjabi personalities were displayed on two large banners carried by PCS members during the parade. Those honoured included Bhagat Singh Thind, who served in the US Army during World War I and later fought a landmark legal battle concerning US citizenship; Dilip Singh Saund, the first Asian American elected to the US Congress, in 1956 from California; Ajaypal Singh Banga, President of the World Bank Group since 2023; and Fauja Singh, recognised as the first centenarian marathon runner.
The banners also featured Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany, known as the Father of Fiber Optics; Dr. Gurtej Singh Sandhu, an inventor credited with holding more patents than Thomas Edison; and Nobel laureates Dr. Har Gobind Khorana, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and Dr. Abdus Salam, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics.
“These banners were to educate the public and create a positive awareness about the Punjabi community in the American mainstream, and it shows our commitment to celebrate our neighborhood American festivals in solidarity with all Americans,” said Rajinder Singh Mago, a member of the Board of Governors of the Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago.
The parade was part of the 55th annual Schaumburg SeptemberFest and also marked the village’s 70th anniversary, making this year’s celebrations particularly significant.
The parade began at 10 a.m. from Wise Road and travelled approximately 1.1 miles northbound on Summit Drive towards the festival grounds, concluding at Beech Drive. The event lasted around two hours.
Thousands of spectators gathered along the route to watch local marching bands, cultural dance groups and performers, including the Jesse White Tumblers. Schaumburg Mayor Tom Dailly and Grand Marshal Bob Schmidt also joined local organisations and participants during the celebrations.
Meanwhile, PCS is preparing for its upcoming Punjabi Mela, scheduled for Sunday, September 20, from noon to 5 p.m. at Deer Grove Forest Preserve in Palatine, Illinois. The event will feature free entry, food, fun games and parking.
The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago is an all-volunteer nonprofit 501(c)(3) organisation that promotes education, good citizenship, community development, civic engagement and sports, while working to preserve Punjabi culture, language and performing arts.
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