The Annual Open Kirtan Competition 2011 was held at Khalsa School, Newton, Surrey, in the Gurudwara Diwan Hall in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib Ji on Saturday, May 7,2011. In all 47 teams with about 245 children participated in the competition. Participants included teams from Khalsa Schools of Newton, Old Yale Road and Vancouver, teams from Akal Academy Surrey, Gurudwara Sukh Sagar New Westminster, Gurudwara Kalgidhar Darbar Abbotsford and few other independent teams.
The program started at about 9.00 AM as per Gurmat Maryada with offering ofArdas and Hukumnama which was performed by the Gurudwara Co-ordinator Mr. S.S.Mattewal. The competition was inaugurated by Khalsa School Trustee Mr. G.S.Neel. Teams from Grade 3 to Grade 12 performed under different Groups and they were judged by renowned and respected personalities which included Mrs.Swaranjit Kaur Neel, Mr. Gurpal Singh, Mr. Resham Singh Raseela, Mr. Preet Singh Mangat, Mr. Charanjeet Singh and Prof. Avtar Singh.
Each team was given 8-10 minutes in which they gave a brief description of the Gurbani Shabad and the Raag they were singing and then sang their Shabad.
Majority of the teams sang their Shabads in the same Raag of the Shabad, many using multiple Raag (Guldasta) and multiple Tabla Taals (Partaal) and also used multiple String instruments. The performances of the teams were stupendous and it showed the amount of hard work done by the children and their Teachers in preparing for the competition. The Sangat (congregation) gathered in the Gurudwara in large numbers were awestruck by the performances. They listened to the melodious Kirtan and enjoyed every moment of the proceedings. Such were the disciplined performances of the teams that even the Judges had a tough time in selecting the winners. The colourful dresses and the Sikhi Banas worn by the participants looked gorgeous and were worth watching. Finally, as the competition ended after the last team’s performance, there was heightened curiosity and enthusiasm amongst the participants eagerly waiting to hear the results.
The Prize distribution ceremony started with echoes of Bole So Nihal…… which continued a number of times thereafter as the names of the first, second and third winners were being announced by Mrs. Rajinder Kaur the Religion Department Head. Beautiful trophies/shields were given to all children of the winning teams by a number of esteemed personalities and parents.
The programme then ended with the Thanksgiving Ardas, Hukumnama and distribution of Parshad.