Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 9: The final of the All India Devotional Song Competition will be held tomorrow under the supervision of Navratra Festival Committee headed by Divisional Commissioner Jammu.
This was stated by Rakesh Wazir, Chairman, All India Devotional Song Committee during a press conference here today. He stated that Devotional Song Competition started 18 years back with the main aim to promote and provide platform to the singers from all over the India in the holy township of Katra, besides promotion of the tourism in J&K.
“This year Pahlaj Nihalni, Chairman Censor Board, Hans Raj Hans, Padam Shree Singer, Parvez Dewan, Former Advisor to Governor and brain behind this competition, Ganesh Jain, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Venus Records and Tapes Limited, Gordhan Tanwani, Producer, Pravin Shah, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Times Videos and Gold Cinemas, Sanjay Vidyarthi, Music Composer, Barkha Arora, Vice President, Zee Network and RC Raina, CEO Navgraha Channel will perform their duties as judge in the finals of this competition”, Wazir informed.
He stated that the people will also witness the live performances of Padam Shree Singer Hans Raj Hans, Music Composer Sanjay Vidyarthi and former Winners of the competition including Mool Raj, Anjusha, Chaman Lehri, Sonali Dogra, Ravi Kumar, etc.
Wazir added that this All India Devotional Song Competition has given platform to many singers in the film industry including Himani Kapoor, Mool Raj, Paramjit Singh Pamma, Naveen Punjabi, Rajan Gill, Sonali Dogra, Reeta Khadyal, Ravi Kumar, Sanjeet Kumar, Anjusha, Vanshkia Jaral, etc.
“First prize of this competition is Gold worth Rs 3 Lakh besides recording contract to the winner of this competition with Venus Records and Tapes Limited”, he said, adding that second prize is Rs 1 lakh and third prize is Rs 50,000.
Earlier, All India Devotional Song Competition entered into the quarterfinal round at Yog Ashram Complex. The programme was inaugurated by AK Sahu, CEO, SMVD Shrine Board and Ravinder Kumar, DC Reasi, in presence of Abhishek Chandra, Director Ministry of Shipping, Government of India, Abhinav Chandra, Secretary Labour Department, Government of India, Neelam Khajuria SDM Katra, Subir Kotwal Additional SP Katra, Rakesh Wazir Chairman Devotional Song Committee, Dr Umesh Shan, Asstt Director Tourism, Mohit Raina Tehsildar Katra, Madan Aggarwal Vice President Hotel Association, Katra and members of Navratra Festival Committee Shyam Lal Kesar, Sardari Lal Dubey, Virender Kesar, etc.
In the quarterfinal round, out of 13 participants who qualified for it through preliminary rounds, 7 participants entered into the semifinal including Kiran Bawa from Jalandhar, Rakesh Malhotra from Jammu, Vivek Mohan from Jammu, Aarshi Kalas from Udhampur, Nitin Mahi from Jammu, Karuna from Jammu and Shaharsh Talwar from Jammu. Those who qualified for semis will compete with first position holders of daily competition for their entry into mega final to be held tomorrow at Yog Ashram Complex.
The competition was adjudged by Dr Usha Bhagati, Ex-HoD Music, MAM College Jammu, Anupama Sharma, Prof in Music, Government Degree College Parade, Dr Surinder Sharma, HoD in Government College of Shimla and HG Roy, a retiree from Sangeet Natak Academy New Delhi.
Anjusha, former winner of the competition enthralled the audience with her sweet and melodious voice.
Meanwhile, four day series of internationally acclaimed presentations of Natrang concluded at the auditorium of Spiritual Growth Centre, SMVDSB, Katra with the presentation of most celebrated Dogri play ‘Bawa Jitto’. Four Day series featured two performances each of ‘Celebrating Diversity’ and the Dogri play ‘Bawa Jitto’ both conceptualized and designed by Balwant Thakur. Entire four day series was supported by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Katra. The play was written by Prof Ram Nath Shastri and directed by Balwant Thakur.
A Shobha yatra-cum-cultural procession was taken out at Katr, which started from Asia Chowk and culminated at Yog Ashram Katra. DC Reasi, Ravinder Kumar was the chief guest on the occasion. Among others, SDM Katra Neelam Khajuria, AD Tourism Department Katra Dr Umesh Shan, Tehsildar Katra Mohit Raina, SHO Katra Arvind Sambyal, Chairman Jhankies Committee Surinder Khajuria, Chairman Bhagwad Katha Sardari Lal Dubey, Chairman Hotelier Association Katra Sham Lal Kesar and large number of local people and pilgrims were present on the occasion.
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