Sikh Inaugural Ball
As someone who is excited about the incoming administration, I have thought about ways in which I would like to participate in the presidential inaugural, when President-Elect Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States. In particular, I thought about attending an inaugural ball — a politically-oriented prom of sorts. As a result, I reviewed this Washingtonian blog post, which contains a list of many of the inaugural balls taking place on or around the date of the inauguration, January 20, 2009.
To my surprise and delight, the list included a “Sikh Inaugural Ball.” The ball is hosted by an organization I had never heard of: the Sikh Community Center. The web site for the ball states:
Here is your chance to make a statement and be seen and heard — in WASHINGTON! — when the entire world will have their eyes and ears on the most important event ever to take place! Don’t you wish you were there?
On January 20th, 2009 the inauguration of America’s 44th President is just such an occasion that you will not want to miss.
You’ll also want to meet other like-minded people so you can make the connections you will need over the next 4 or 8 years!
The Sikh Community Center is proud to announce that the 1st EVER SIKH INAUGURAL BALL takes place just a few blocks from the White House – at Ascot, I-The Indian Experience Restaurant.
Whether or not to attend the inaugural festivities is an undoubtedly difficult decision — because of the exorbitantly high prices for rooms, parking issues, and the limits of public transportation, for example. But if you are considering making the trip to D.C., the Sikh Inaugural Ball is an option.
Please note: I make no representations about the quality of this event — as always, buyer beware!
32 Responses to “Sikh Inaugural Ball”
Pompous and not very Sikh like.
Pompous and not very Sikh like.
This sounds like a great event. I attented their past events & Sikh Inaugural Ball will be another rocking one. The who's who of the Sikh Community around the world will be there. I have also heard that Hilary Clinton & Mr. Chatwal are on the guest list.
This will surely be one night to remember.
This sounds like a great event. I attented their past events & Sikh Inaugural Ball will be another rocking one. The who’s who of the Sikh Community around the world will be there. I have also heard that Hilary Clinton & Mr. Chatwal are on the guest list.
This will surely be one night to remember.
Jasmeen,
The Indian Experience is a normal Indian restaurant. It's where student (desi) orgs. hold their banquets/parties. The who's who of the Sikh community around the world will not be there.
Let's not lead anyone on.
Just sounds like another group trying to profit off the inauguration craze to me.
Jasmeen,
The Indian Experience is a normal Indian restaurant. It’s where student (desi) orgs. hold their banquets/parties. The who’s who of the Sikh community around the world will not be there.
Let’s not lead anyone on.
Just sounds like another group trying to profit off the inauguration craze to me.
The who's who of the Sikh community are people who you don't know, who do so much seva and simran it would make your head spin. This is pompous self promotion of Washington elite diplomat / bureaucrat Sikhs who like to get close to politicians for reflected glory because they don't remember the glory of their inheritance from Guru Gobind Singh.
The who’s who of the Sikh community are people who you don’t know, who do so much seva and simran it would make your head spin. This is pompous self promotion of Washington elite diplomat / bureaucrat Sikhs who like to get close to politicians for reflected glory because they don’t remember the glory of their inheritance from Guru Gobind Singh.
Reema – spot on.
On a completely unrelated note – the site just changed! Like right now! One second, old site, next second, new site! It was magical – you had to be there.
I like the new look.
Reema – spot on.
On a completely unrelated note – the site just changed! Like right now! One second, old site, next second, new site! It was magical – you had to be there.
I like the new look.
Whoa…what happened…back to the old layout…
Whoa…what happened…back to the old layout…
P.Singh,
We're working on the new layout. It will be going up on December 17th (One Year Anniversary).
P.Singh,
We’re working on the new layout. It will be going up on December 17th (One Year Anniversary).
I think it's largely the work of Lakhinder Jit Singh Vohra. I don't know him or the work he does. I'm just working back through various web links.
Some of the comments on this post feel a bit astroturfed, would somebody at TLH check the IP addresses?
And if this group does have a track record from prior events, would people talk about them?
I think it’s largely the work of Lakhinder Jit Singh Vohra. I don’t know him or the work he does. I’m just working back through various web links.
Some of the comments on this post feel a bit astroturfed, would somebody at TLH check the IP addresses?
And if this group does have a track record from prior events, would people talk about them?
Ennis I think you're right. Why isn't Rajwant Singh up in the mix? haha
Above Jasmeen actually could be Jasmehar Jit (wife of Lakhinder). Since the link in her name point to the site that he owns.
Ennis I think you’re right. Why isn’t Rajwant Singh up in the mix? haha
Above Jasmeen actually could be Jasmehar Jit (wife of Lakhinder). Since the link in her name point to the site that he owns.
So you don't even have to check the IPs, Jasmeen isn't pretending to be neutral. That's honest of her, I have to respect that.
It's just that the claim about Hillary Clinton is hard to swallow. One of the Chatwals may have suggested something like this, but c'mon now …
I'm not trying to put this ball down either. Just trying to set realistic expectations.
So you don’t even have to check the IPs, Jasmeen isn’t pretending to be neutral. That’s honest of her, I have to respect that.
It’s just that the claim about Hillary Clinton is hard to swallow. One of the Chatwals may have suggested something like this, but c’mon now …
I’m not trying to put this ball down either. Just trying to set realistic expectations.
It is a moment of great pride for our community to have their own inaugral ball. I think it is the right time for us to celebrate change. Lets turn up their in great numbers to show our solidarity.
I saw Rab ne bana di jodi yesterday and I was very proud to be a sikh and I think we need our own identity.
It is a moment of great pride for our community to have their own inaugral ball. I think it is the right time for us to celebrate change. Lets turn up their in great numbers to show our solidarity.
I saw Rab ne bana di jodi yesterday and I was very proud to be a sikh and I think we need our own identity.
Are we, as a generation of young and North American Sikhs, really that insecure that we need a cheesy Bollywood movie to uplift and inspire us about our Sikh identity?
Are we, as a generation of young and North American Sikhs, really that insecure that we need a cheesy Bollywood movie to uplift and inspire us about our Sikh identity?
a movie does not uplift or inspire us to be a sikh. in fact it reinforces our belief in our culture. the potrayal of sikhs not as silly people for fooling around but instead their potrayal as someone who lives a life of conviction and values is the key here.
we need to be able to create an identity for ourselves which we have struggled so hard to gain.
a movie does not uplift or inspire us to be a sikh. in fact it reinforces our belief in our culture. the potrayal of sikhs not as silly people for fooling around but instead their potrayal as someone who lives a life of conviction and values is the key here.
we need to be able to create an identity for ourselves which we have struggled so hard to gain.
The poster/flyer you've seen circulating is actually a deceptive ad targeting Sikh professionals. Please take a moment to review the real poster for this event:
http://www.desipartyanimal.com/
SikhInauguralBall is a front for DesiPartyAnimal and PartyDigest. All 3 websites interestingly enough are owned and operated by Lakhinder Jit Vohra and his wife Gurveen Vohra.
By the way, the significant difference between the $250 ticket and $150 ticket is the former includes complimentary tickets to the open bar whereas the latter includes 2 drink tickets.
You can also get a preview of the "Inaugural Ball" by viewing pictures from Lakhinder's New Year's Eve party.
If you'd like to share your thoughts about this event and its deceptive advertising, feel free to email Lakhinder and Gurveen:
Lak@partydigest.com
Gurveen@partydigest.com
The poster/flyer you’ve seen circulating is actually a deceptive ad targeting Sikh professionals. Please take a moment to review the real poster for this event:
http://www.desipartyanimal.com/
SikhInauguralBall is a front for DesiPartyAnimal and PartyDigest. All 3 websites interestingly enough are owned and operated by Lakhinder Jit Vohra and his wife Gurveen Vohra.
By the way, the significant difference between the $250 ticket and $150 ticket is the former includes complimentary tickets to the open bar whereas the latter includes 2 drink tickets.
You can also get a preview of the “Inaugural Ball” by viewing pictures from Lakhinder’s New Year’s Eve party.
If you’d like to share your thoughts about this event and its deceptive advertising, feel free to email Lakhinder and Gurveen:
Lak@partydigest.com
Gurveen@partydigest.com
Today's Washington Post has an article about Mr Vohra and the ball:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/arti…
Today’s Washington Post has an article about Mr Vohra and the ball:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/11/AR2009011102183.html
I have seen more positive publicity for this event in the American Media than any other Sikh event. This should be a pride for the Sikh Community to be part of this historical event. Profit or no profit, no one is putting pressure on anyone to buy ticket for $150 so there is no logical reason for people to think negatively about this event. There is no guarantee that this event is going to be profitable after the organizers are spending so much time and taking risk. This should be a prideful event for Sikhs.
SINGH
I have seen more positive publicity for this event in the American Media than any other Sikh event. This should be a pride for the Sikh Community to be part of this historical event. Profit or no profit, no one is putting pressure on anyone to buy ticket for $150 so there is no logical reason for people to think negatively about this event. There is no guarantee that this event is going to be profitable after the organizers are spending so much time and taking risk. This should be a prideful event for Sikhs.
SINGH