Garba contest announced

VADODARA, Oct 14: This should interest both types of garba connoisseurs: The District Information Department would hold 8212; for the first time in the State 8212; a garba singing contest in modern and traditional categories here on October 21. And there are cash prizes worth Rs 1,000 for outstanding participants.

The idea behind holding the contest is to revive and promote the traditional garba songs, say Kalapana Buch and Suresh Mishra, both Information Officers in the department here. They say that though there are so many garba contests all over, it is ironical that few efforts are made to promote the rich old traditional garba songs, typical of different parts of Gujarat.

The Department would also document the songs and promote them.

The contest, which would be held at the Planetarium, Kamatibaug, from 2 pm onwards, would be funded under the department8217;s Jan Jagriti Scheme.

Singers in both categories would be judged by a special panel of reputed personalities from art and literature, Buch and Mishra said, and added that five teams had already confirmed their participation. Entries could be given till October 21 morning.