Sponsored by Panesar Brothers & Ontario Women's Association

"Mela" can be translated as fun fair, though the translation does not bring in the actual spirit of the Punjabi word. It is more like ladies want to "let go all the worries and stress at home" and wish to spend time listening to their favourite singers.

Pinky Basrao, the group's international promoter, said, "This is the first time that this mela is being held anywhere in North America". And they rightly chose Greater Toronto, which has a very appreciative and enthusiastic Punjabi audience.

Thunderous applause at the end of each of the lovely, authentic Punjabi songs, was the order of the evening. There was not a single soul who did not enjoy and wish to re-live the evening.

The star of the show was Surinder Kaur, the sister of Prakash Kaur. Both the sisters sang their way all over the world and made folk songs popular since 1940s.

Surinder Kaur was recently honoured with the presentation of the Millennium Award worth Rs. 1 lac 21 thousand by the International Punjabi Association in Chandigarh in February.

In addition, the performers included several fine artists and singers, among them Sonia Sidhu, Neelam Chauhan, Baljinder Rimpy, Bhupinder Mehali.