PITTSBURGH: The 4th Annual Interstate Kirtan Competition was held on Saturday September 2, 1989 from 1 to 9 pm at Sikh Foundation of Virginia (SFV). (The first three competitions were held at Tri State Sikh Cultural Society of Pittsburgh.

There were two age groups: 1) Children under 13, and 2) Children 13 and older. Each organization sent one jatha per age group.

Nineteen organizations (28 Jathas composed of some 200 child the entire program was taped professionally. Copies of video cassette can be obtained by contacting Permiver Singh P.R. O Sikh Founren) from all across United States and Canada participated, Over 1,000 people attended this competition.

This function was very well organized by Sikh Foundation of Virginia. An elder was heard saying, “I have never seen such a program in my 70 years of life. It was a very good feeling. It felt like true Panth was sitting there.”

The judges for this competition were: S. Kuldeep Singh of Toledo Ohio, Gyani Jagtar Singh of Washineton Sikh Temple, Bhai Jagdation of Virginia (703) 6987472 or Sirmukh Singh Manku at (703) 2506702.

Earlier, Sikh Foundation of Virmohan Singh Guru Nanak Foundation of America, Bhai Gurdarshan Singh of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, Gyani Kuldeep Singh Deep of Sikh Foundation of Virginia.

Program was started by Ardas by Anureet Deu of Sikh Foundation of Virginia and Vak by Priyadarshan Kaur Tulsi of Guru Nanak Foundation of America. Dr. Tara Singh, Chairman, Sikh Foundation of Virginia welcomed the Sangat and gavea brief history ofthe Foundation. The SFV Secretary Harbans Singh Matharoo introduced Mr. Manbir Singh Katbhuria, Competition Coordinator ginia also organized a very successful camp from August 3 to 6, 1989 at Gurdwara Sahib. Dr. Kamaljit Sethi and Dr. Barindar Deu were who read the rules of the competition and introduced the judges and the four youth secretaries. They were: Rickinder Singh, Sandeep Singh Kathuria, Gobind Singh Sethi and Nitasha Kaur Sethi.

Since each group performed superbly the judges deliberated more than one hour to develop the final ranking, During the time the judges were deliberating, jatha (Parminder S. Bathla, Baljinder S. Bathla, Ravinder S. Mahal, Barinder S. Mahal Rakesh S. Dulai and Paul S. Dulai) from Sikh Society of Dayton Ohio performed Rehras Sahib on the Harmonium. It was very much appreciated by the Santhe coordinators for that program. The camp covered Punjabi classes, Shabad Kirtan, Sikh history. gat. Anand Sahib was performed by SFV children led by Amarjit Kaur Manku and Navdeep Kaur Kathusia. SFV children also performed Ardas, Beladeep Kaur, Vak, Amrita Madan, ChopaiBalpreet Sandhu (granddaughter of Dr. Gurbakash Singh Gill).

Dr. Amarjit Singh of Sikh Educational Cultural Society of Western New York (Buffalo) introduced Dr. Gobind Singh Mansukhani who distributed the prizes. The name of the winners are as follows:

Younger Group

Raga, Tristate Sikh Cultural Society of Pittsburgh, Tabla, Sikh Educational Society of Western New York, Pronunciation, Nanak Parchar Sabha, Los Angeles, Coordhration, Sikh Foundation of Virginia, Maryada, Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, 3rd prize, Kitchner Ontario, 2nd prize, Sikh Education Cultural Society of Western NY (Buffalo), Ist prize, Guru Nanak Foundation of America.

Older Group

Raga, Guru Nanak Foundation of America, Tabla, Hamilton Ontario, Pronunciation, Coming New York, Coordination, Sikh Foundation of Virginia, Maryada, Washington Sikh Center, 3rd prize, Kitchner Ontario, 2nd prize, Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, 1st prize, Sikh Educational Cultural Society of Western N.Y (Buffalo).

Overall Championship

The Hamilton, Ontario group from Canada are, Harpreet Kaur, Chana, Gurpreet Singh, Japram Kaur, Harjit Singh won the overall championship.

Special guests attending the function included S. Hem Singh Head Granthi of Gurdwara Bangla Sahib of New Delhi. Other guests included visitor from England and India.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 22, 1989