AIR treats Gangtok to live folk music

GANGTOK, 18 March: All India Radio, Gangtok Station, treated the capital to “Akashvani Lok Sangeet Samagam” here at the Government College Auditorium at Tadong on Saturday evening. The programme featured Lepcha, Limboo, Nepali, Sikkimese Bhutia folk music.
The programme started with Bhutia folk songs by Rinzing Sherap and his team followed by Nepali folk songs by Naren Gurung and party. Then Lepcha folk song segment was presented by Choki Lhamu Lepcha and party, following which, Narayan Rai and party presented a song, which was accompanied by a Maruni Dance.
Sanchaman Limboo and his team presented a Limboo folk song along with a well received dance by children. The programme ended with a song by a popular singer, Uttam Pradhan. The programme was highly appreciated by the packed audience which had turned up for the event.
Earlier, Gangtok Station Programme and Station Head, KS Ranpahenly, informed that the main objective behind this initiative was to bring Akashvani artists face to face with their listeners and to provide another platform for their talent. The programme was conducted by Suman Gajmer and Khusbu Chettri.

AIR to bring local artists to the people with folk musical evening ‘Lok Sangeet Sangam’

SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 13 Mar: All India Radio Gangtok Station is organizing a folk musical evening, ‘Lok Sangeet Sangam’, at Sikkim Government College auditorium from 4 to 6 PM on 17 March. The two-hour programme will feature four local groups and one artist. The programme is being organized under the North East package.
In the programme, Choki Lhamu Lepcha and group will present Lepcha folk music, Sanchaman Limboo and group will present Limboo folk music, Ringzing Sherap and group will present Sikkimese Bhutia folk music while Narayan Rai and group and Naren Gurung will give Nepali folk presentations.
Addressing a press conference today, Gangtok Station Programme Head and Station Head, KS Ranapaheli mentioned that since its establishment on 01 October 1982, the Gangtok Station has been working for the up-liftment and promotion of local artists and tradition, culture and folk music of the state.  He informed that this programme also aims to promote local artists from rural and far flung areas of the state.
Programme Executive, Asha Kiran mentioned that this programme is also an effort to bring local artists to the people as the radio listeners just get to hear the artists but have never seen them. She informed that the programme has given opportunities to new artists from different remote places to showcase their talents. She urged the people to come and encourage local talents in the programme.
Engineering Head, B Chakraborty informed that the two-hour long show will be recorded and will be broadcast in the coming days. He stated that this programme would also help people to know more about Sikkim its tradition, culture and music.
The press conference was also addressed by Programme Executive, Lakpa Lama Yonzon.
AIR Gangtok Station has welcomed people to witness the folk music evening and encourage the local artists. The show is open for all.

Auditions for Snow Fest folk song comp on 18 and 19 Feb

ANUSHA GURUNG
GANGTOK, 08 Feb: Auditions for the folk song competition, part of the Sikkim Snow and Culture Festival, will be held on 18 and 19 February organised by the Tours and Travels group at Hotel Delamare, Church Road, Gangtok. Auditions for South and West districts will be held on 18 Feb while auditions for North and East districts will be held on 19 Feb.
Addressing a press conference today, Advisor of Tours and Travels group, Shankar Pradhan said that “the people of Sikkim have been given an opportunity to show their hidden talents through this programme. Let us keep our tradition alive with unity”.
“This is the first time in Sikkim where even tourists who are interested will be given a chance to join in. It will, however, be centered on Sikkimese folk songs”, Mr Pradhan further added.
A sub-committee has been formed for the purpose which consists of  Advisor SK Pradhan, Palzor Lachungpa, Karma Bhutia, president [Snoopy Travels] Rajani Gurung, vice president [High Mountain Travels] Raju Lama, secretary [Diksha Travels] Dhanman Tamang, treasurer [Naramchu Travels] Beena Rai, executive members [Eastwind Holidays] DB Rai,  [North Sikkim Travels] Samudra Singh, [Pakhrin Travels] Bhusan Tamang.
The 12 best performers will take to the stage in the finals to be held on 26 Feb at MG Marg from 3:00 pm onwards. Awards will be given in three categories [Bhutia, Lepcha and Nepali]. The winner will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 10000, while the 2nd and 3rd prize winners will be awarded Rs 7000 and Rs 5000 respectively.

Folk Song competition at MG Marg

GANGTOK, 30 Jan: TAAS will be hosting an Open Folk Song Competition will be held here at MG Marg as part of the Sikkim Snow & Culture Fest, which is to start on 14 February.
Speaking to media persons today, TAAS Joint Secretary [South], Dhan Man Tamang, informed that the Travel Agents Association of Sikkim was going to hold an open folk song competition here at MG Marg during the Sikkim Snow & Culture Fest. As the name suggests, the competition is open to all.
Contestants can perform in any of the three languages - Bhutia, Lepcha or Nepali. Auditions are scheduled for 18 and 19 February at MG Marg itself and the finals scheduled for 26 February with a charity show, he added.
“The winner will take home a cash prize of Rs. 25,000, with the runner-up receiving Rs. 15,000 and the one coming third Rs. 10,000,” he further informed.
“The reason for holding this open folk song competition is to bring forward the hidden talents of the people and children of Sikkim and also work on the recovery mission of bringing back tourism after the 18 September, 2011 earthquake,” he further added.
Any person interested in taking part in the folk song competition can contact: 98325-86359, 94743-48851, 94750-11447.

Yuksam School wins national level interschool folk dance competition

GANGTOK, 02 Jan: The Government Secondary School, Yuksam, has made the State proud and delivered the people a welcome advance New Year’s gift by bagging the first place at the recently-held mational-level Inter-School Folk Dance Competition 2011 organized by the Population Education Cell of NCERT [with co-operation from SCERTs of various states]. School troupes from Gujarat and Rajasthan took the 2nd and 3rd positions in the event held on 28 and 29 December.

Yuksam school comes second at Regional Level Folk Dance Competition

GANGTOK, 04 Nov: Govt. Secondary School Yuksam, West Sikkim has made the state proud by bagging the second position at the Regional Level Folk Dance Competition held at Srimanta Sankaradev Kalashetra, Punjabbari Guwahati on 01 November, informs a press release.