Philadelphia, PA – The Sikh community and SALDEF partnered with the Philadelphia 76ers to host the first-ever Sikh Heritage Night during the Philadelphia 76ers versus Toronto Raptors basketball game on December 14, 2016. Fans from Boston to Virginia traveled to the game to celebrate Sikh culture and helped to educate the larger American community about Sikhs and their core values of equality, freedom, selfless service, and social justice. 
“The night was a resounding success,” said Sikh Heritage Night organizer Sachdeep Singh Arora. “Fans throughout the stadium enjoyed the experience and came away more educated about Sikh Americans and their values.” During the game, the first-ever Sikh American Public Service Announcement created by Comcast and SALDEF was displayed on the big screen. Many Sikh American fans also hi-fived the players as they were introduced, played on the 76ers court after the game with NBA player Richaun Holmes, and also received a specially designed Sixers Sikh Heritage Night t-shirt. 
In the spirit of giving and selfless service, a percentage of proceeds from ticket sales for the Sikh Heritage Night went to a local non-profit organization, Sachkhand Express. They will use the donations to serve langar (a free community meal) to homeless and low income families in Philadelphia, Camden, and Newark, NJ. The night celebrated volunteerism, including a special video tribute for Ujagar Singh, who received SALDEF’s Bhagat Singh Thind Community Empowerment Award in 2007. In 1978, he started Camp Chardi Kala which provides an inspirational religious experience for Sikh youth. His contributions over the past 40 years has inspired generations of future leaders and social pioneers by promoting seva (selfless service) and chardi kala (eternal optimism). 
The game was kicked off by a special rendition of the national anthem by Mehar and Ravtej Kohli. Attendees also enjoyed a lively halftime bhangra dance performance from Shaan Mutiyaaran Di Club, an all-female dance team from New York City comprised of alumni from collegiate bhangra teams spanning the county. The group’s dancers capitalize on the diversity of their backgrounds and nationalities, as well as their training in a multitude of bhangra styles, to create a unique take on the traditional folk dance. SALDEF would like to congratulate the lead organizers for this event, Sachdeep Singh Arora, Amitoj Singh Chatrath, Amman Singh Seehra, and Jagmeet Singh Sethi, for their tireless efforts to launch this inaugural event. For more information, including photos, please visit the Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/SikhHeritageNight76ers/
“The night was a resounding success,” said Sikh Heritage Night organizer Sachdeep Singh Arora. “Fans throughout the stadium enjoyed the experience and came away more educated about Sikh Americans and their values.” During the game, the first-ever Sikh American Public Service Announcement created by Comcast and SALDEF was displayed on the big screen. Many Sikh American fans also hi-fived the players as they were introduced, played on the 76ers court after the game with NBA player Richaun Holmes, and also received a specially designed Sixers Sikh Heritage Night t-shirt. In the spirit of giving and selfless service, a percentage of proceeds from ticket sales for the Sikh Heritage Night went to a local non-profit organization, Sachkhand Express. They will use the donations to serve langar (a free community meal) to homeless and low income families in Philadelphia, Camden, and Newark, NJ. The night celebrated volunteerism, including a special video tribute for Ujagar Singh, who received SALDEF’s Bhagat Singh Thind Community Empowerment Award in 2007. In 1978, he started Camp Chardi Kala which provides an inspirational religious experience for Sikh youth. His contributions over the past 40 years has inspired generations of future leaders and social pioneers by promoting seva (selfless service) and chardi kala (eternal optimism). The game was kicked off by a special rendition of the national anthem by Mehar and Ravtej Kohli. Attendees also enjoyed a lively halftime bhangra dance performance from Shaan Mutiyaaran Di Club, an all-female dance team from New York City comprised of alumni from collegiate bhangra teams spanning the county. The group’s dancers capitalize on the diversity of their backgrounds and nationalities, as well as their training in a multitude of bhangra styles, to create a unique take on the traditional folk dance. SALDEF would like to congratulate the lead organizers for this event, Sachdeep Singh Arora, Amitoj Singh Chatrath, Amman Singh Seehra, and Jagmeet Singh Sethi, for their tireless efforts to launch this inaugural event. For more information, including photos, please visit the Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/SikhHeritageNight76ers/