Successful Kirtan competition for kids

PITTSBURG: The 6th annual competition kirtan samelan was held on Saturday aug.311991 from 12:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Tri-State Sikh Cultural Society of Pittsburgh Gurdwara.

There were two age groups; children under 13 and children 13 and over There were 19 organizations 28 jat has with about 220 children and about 600-800 people in the sadh sangat

The evaluators for this competition were: Bhai Jaspal Singh from L.A.Dr.Chauhan from Cleveland Bibi Sunder Kaur from Windsor Bibi Ravinder Kaur from Rochester and S.Mohinder Singh from Virginia.

Program was started by Ardas and Vaak by Giani Satpai Singh. Dr.Gurblash Kaur Nagpal Secretary of TSSCS welcomed the sadh sangat Dr.Amarjit Singh from Buffalo introduced the judges and DrJasbir Singh Gill the program coordinator of TSSCS explained the rules categories and started the program. The three youth stage secretaries of the program were Sonika Kaur Gill Gagen Kaur Bal and Jagdcep Singh Bal. The program ended with Rehras Sahiband Ardas lead by Sonika Gill Gagan Bal and Jagdeep Bal.

‘The overall winners of the kirtan samelan were the senior group from Toronto. In this group was two girls on the harmoniam and one girl on the tablas. For the exemplary category: Jr. groups from Buffalo and Youngstown Sr.groups from Toronto London (Ontario) Hamilton Guelph (Ontario) and North Carolina. For the excellent: Jr. groups from Rochestor Guelph (Ontario) and G.N.F.A. (Maryland) Sr. groups from Buffalo G.G.S.F (Maryland) Rochester S.F.V. (Virginia) T.S.S.C.S. (Pittsburgh) Windsor W.S.C. (Maryland) G.N.F.A. (Maryland) Burlington (Ontario) Cornwall (Montreal) and Cleveland For the commendable category: Jr. groups from Cleveland T.B.S.C.S. (Pittsburgh) S.F.V. (Virginia) G.G.SF (Maryland) and Sr. group from S.A.B. (Baltimore). Also the efforts of the all senior boys group from Washington Sikh Center of Maryland was especially mentioned and highly appreciated. This year performance of all children was so good that evaluators were unable to place any Jatha in the lowest.

During the break three jathas had performed kirtan. Two of the groups were under the age 6. They were from Buffalo New York and from Guru Nanak Foundation of America from Maryland. The other group was an all-boys group from Sikh Foundation of Virginia.

The evaluators and the Sangat were impressed with the proficiency of the children in Ragas and pronunciations of even tough Sanskrit words in the Shabad. Trophies and Certificates amongst loudest Jakaras were given by Bhai Jaspal Singh and S.Mohinder.

Dr.Gill thanked all the evaluators the participants and the Sangat and emphasized the importance of participation in such programs.

The entire program was videotaped and copies (set of 2 tapes) are available at $20.00 by calling Sirmukh S. Manku (703) 250-6702.