Mere Desh awards put spotlight on creative arts
Thursday, April 21 2011

TRINIDAD GUARDIAN - By Paras Ramoutar - Big prizes await participants in the local classical singing competition set for the annual Mere Desh Indian Arrival Day celebrations on May 30, Indian Arrival Day. The event will begin at 2 pm at the Mid Centre Mall car park. Ajeet Praimsingh, co-ordinator, said participants would have to sing a medley comprising a local classical song, an old film song and an old chutney song, all of which must not exceed five minutes. “The song must be accompanied by either a bottle and spoon, a lota (brass cup) and spoon or a dhantal. This is aimed at reviving these original Indian musical instruments which are no longer popular with the advent of the new technologies in music,” he said.

Praimsingh said there would also be classes in the making and decoration of all kinds of earthen wares such as pots, kalysas and deyas. In keeping with its original trend, five sons and daughters will be honoured for their contribution to the upliftment of Indian culture, art and music. “The Mere Desh committee continues to portray and demonstrate the capacity and genius of the Indian Diaspora over the past 21 years. “This is an annual programme and it has caught the national imagination and has now become a national institution,” Praimsingh said. There will also be musical entertainment, and the mayor of Chaguanas, Orlando Nagessar, will deliver the feature address.