Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Jan 8: Keeping up with the earlier tradition, Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM) organised final competition of Gaashtaruk-VI on January 7 at Satya Sai Auditorium here.
Gaashtaruk is a talent hunt programme of displaced Kashmiri Hindu community kids in domains like singing, dancing, instrumental and Kashmiri speaking. The idea is to help the KP kids carry forward their language and culture a handout issued by JKVM said.
This was the 6th Edition of ‘Gaashtaruk’. The selection once again was the result of over three months long search and exposure of talent within the community. Auditions were held at three cities Delhi NCR, Jammu and Dehradun. A group of 94 young boys and girls was shortlisted out of 178 children who had participated in auditions in various domains. Among 94 kids, 35 kids were selected for finals. The finalist was judged by a panel of leading Kashmiri artists Rajinder Kachroo who is a renowned singer, Dileep Langoo great musician and singer and for dancing judgment Anesh Koul and Raman from Dance India Foundation were present.
While speaking on the occasion they lauded JKVM for organizing Gaashtaruk and urged young contestants to peruse this art in a consistent manner.
Priya Sethi, Minister of State for Education, Technical Education, Culture, Tourism, Horticulture, Floriculture and Parks, Government of Jammu & Kashmir graced the occasion as chief guest. She encouraged the team JKVM and praised them for their efforts to carry forward the legacy of Kashmiri culture and language. She gave away the awards to the winners of Gaashtaruk-VI.
Sanjay Ganjoo, president JKVM presented welcome address and said that JKVM has relentlessly worked on preservation of culture and language and will continue to do so in future as well.
Manoj Bhan, general secretary JKVM introduced the judges and also shared the details of programme. He also threw light on how the event Gaashtaruk was conceived and the various stages it went through in its growth path.
During the entire event, Small groups of KP children of all ages, were seen enthusiastically performing to the best of their talent and demonstrating their Koshur cultural (Kashmiri cultural) aspirations that would have enthused and encouraged many parents and children in the audience to emulate. It created a galvanizing environment and held the audience spell bound by the wonderful performances of these budding artists.
The prizes were given to winners and runners up singing juniors category, singing seniors category, instrumental juniors category, instrumental seniors category, dancing junior category and dancing senior category.
A special award “Super Gaashtaruk” was declared this year and was awarded to Ms. Vanshika Bhat for her hard work and dedication. She has been training kids and helping them gear up for this performance. She has taken initiative of teaching kids without any fee and is taking time out of her own busy study schedule. Owing to a splendid singing performance four consolation prizes were given to Daksh Bhat, Himanshu Pandita, Krishna Bhat and Mahima Raina.
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