Defending champ retains Pichakaaree title
Sunday, March 20 2011

TRINIDAD EXPRESS - By Ariti Jankie - Defending champ Kamaldai Nisha Ramkissoon won this year's Pichakaaree competition.

Ramkissoon retained her title at the 20th annual competition held for the first time at the festival ground of the Hindu Prachar Kendra, Ragoonanan Road, Enterprise, Chaguanas. She received $20,000.

Mohip Poonwassie, a three-time Pichakaaree champion, won the prize for the best composition for a song titled "Oh Gypsy Please tell me". He took home $15,000.

This year's competition carried a total cash prize of $140,000. Ramkissoon's song was titled "Raavan Kiraaj".

The competition began at 2.30 p.m. with a roti eating competition, powder blowing, Pichakaaree, rang barsee (a burst of colours) and the game Makhan chor (butter thief).

School teacher Savitri Jagdeo was the first contestant singing "No more Balisier".

Tributes were paid to the People's Partnership and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar by Earnest Emmanuel. A total of 12 finalists appeared on stage.

Pundit Bisram Siewdath sang "Daaru (rum) in the chutney" telling the story of his aunt who added a mixture of alcohol to a hot pepper chutney dish.

"Don't do that" he cautioned "it smelling bad".

He said in song "$2 million for Rikki Jai, how much for Jahaji Bhai?", a clear reference to the first place prize in this year's Chutney Soca Monarch competition.

The competition was held in the midst of the spraying of abeer colours.

Caroni South MP and Minister in the Ministry of Labour Rudranath Indarsingh was present at the celebrations.

He said attempts would be made to have phagwa and Pichakaaree included in the tourism drive.