The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha will be hosting its Kala Utsav, the annual festival of arts on Sunday, November 26, 2017at the Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud Dharmic Sanskritik Kendra, Prashad Nagar.
The Utsav which will begin at 10:00 hrs will see more than 200 persons under the age of 25 participate in a friendly competition in the categories of Ramayan Chanting, Male and Female Singing, Tassa, Classical Dance, Folk Dance and Kirtan, the Sabha said.
Kala Utsav, which was introduced by the Sabha more than twenty years ago, was conceived as an innovative way to propagate and preserve the Indian Art forms. “Its intention is to motivate young people to continue the traditions of their fore-parents and to achieve excellence in the various art forms while simultaneously building talent bases in the various regions,” the Dharmic Sabha said in a statement.
Trophies, certificates and cash incentives are given to all participants to encourage them to continue developing their talents.
Prior to the final Utsav, each of the Sabha’s Praants held Preliminary Utsavs in their communities to pick the best to represent them at the finals. Participants will come from Upper Corentyne, Central Corentyne, East Berbice, West Berbice, East Coast Demerara, Georgetown, East Bank Demerara, West Coast Demerara and Essequibo.
Among the highlights of this year’s Kala Utsav will be the Ramayan Chanting category with dramatic depiction aimed at promoting elements of the Ramleela tradition, the Kirtan and Folk Dance segments in which large vibrant groups are slated to perform and the re-introduction of the Tassa category which will see some of Guyana’s popular groups competing for the top spots.
The Dharmic Sabha anticipated that some amazing new singing talent will be discovered on Sunday as well.