Bhangra in the Burgh

Bhangra in the Burgh is an annual bhangra competition run by students of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. The competition has traditionally donated all of its proceeds to the Homeless Children's Education Fund of Allegheny County. In 2007, the competition was founded with the primary mission of bringing national attention to the city of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, while preserving an important facet of South Asian culture. The 2008 show will be held on November 8, 2008 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in the Oakland region of Pittsburgh.

Bhangra
Bhangra is a lively and energetic folk dance that is usually performed while celebrating the annual harvest. It originates from a region of both East Pakistan and Northwest India known as Punjab. The dance is accompanied with a combination of various classical instruments, such as the dhol drum, along with traditional lyrics. By fusing with Western elements, such as hip-hop and reggae, Bhangra has been dramatically transformed. The growing influence of this new form of Bhangra has captured the attention of second and third generation Punjabis worldwide, primarily in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.
Bhangra has become a popular activity in many universities around the United States. South Asian clubs and organizations in these universities form teams and hold annual Bhangra competitions in major US cities. These collegiate teams are composed of students of all nationalities. The teams are judged on the basis of how traditional and entertaining they are.

2008 Show
The 2008 show will be held on November 8, 2008 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall. The lineup for the 2008 show is:

Columbia Bhangra -- New York, NY
Cornell Bhangra -- Ithaca, NY
Drexel Bhangra -- Philadelphia, PA
Northwestern Bhangra -- Chicago, IL
NYU Bhangra -- New York, NY
RU Bhangra -- New Brunswick, NJ
UVA Di Shaan -- Charlottesville, VA
VCU Bhangra representing DCM Punjabi Arts Academy -- Richmond,VA

2007 Show
The first annual Bhangra in the Burgh garnered much praise from the South Asian community and Pittsburgh communities alike. It drew over 2,200 attendees and raised over $6,000 for their charity. Bhangra in the Burgh 2007 was most famous for the quality of the show and its treatment of its teams. The first place prize went to Rutgers University, the second prize went to Sonay Gabroo Punjab De, and the third place prize went to New York University. The event generated much support and created awareness of South Asian culture throughout Pittsburgh.

Mayur-South Asian Student Alliance
Mayur SASA, Carnegie Mellon’s largest South Asian organization, is a student organization that sponsors and organizes various social and cultural activities for students. Mayur SASA strives to promote unity, diversity,and interest in the South Asian culture by appealing to students of all nationalities and cultures.

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