Tripti Nath/ New Delhi

The India Islamic Cultural Centre on Lodhi Road wore a festive look on Saturday as school children in colourful clothes turned up to participate in a singing competition.

The grand event was jointly organized by AwazTheVoice, the Khusro Foundation and the India Islamic Cultural Centre, as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to mark 75 years of India’s independence.

There was an air of excitement and suspense after groups of students from eight Delhi schools got on stage with competitive spirit to sing patriotic songs and cheered for one another.

Some members of the audience could be seen joining the singers in singing evergreen patriotic songs like ‘ Saare Jehan se Achcha’, ‘Ai watan, mere watan, Aabad rahe tu’ and‘ Sandeshe aate hain, mujhe tadpate hain’

Members of the audience at the singing competition

The auditorium reverberated with loud cheers as the group from Guru Nanak Public School which presented a mélange of five songs, were adjudged the winners. 

While the girls of the winning team wore white kurtas and black trousers with tri-colour bands, the boys wore white kurtas and paired them with black trousers, white turbans and tri-colour bands. While two boys in the team played the harmonium and the tabla, a girl added special effects to the songs by playing the guitar.

Guru Nanak Public School, Rajouri Garden won the first prize in the competition organized on the occasion of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ at India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi.

The second prize was bagged by Khadijatul Kubra Girls Public School, Joga Bai, Delhi, the third prize was won by New Horizon Senior Secondary School, Nizamuddin.

Girls from Khadijatul Girls Public School, Joga Bai who won the second prize, looked elegant in white check green kurtas paired with white salwars, white stoles and Hijab. They used orange and green bands to represent the spirit of Independence Day.

Girls from Khadijatul Girls Public School, Joga Bai were declared the second winners at the competiiton

Noted singer Hamsar Hayat along with Ustad Tanveer Ahmed Khan of Dilli Gharana and renowned classical singer Kshitij Mathur, graced the occasion to adjudge the singing talent of the children. As many as eight schools participated in the singing competition.

The three judges of the singing competition

Mr. Sirajuddin Quraishi, President of India Islamic Cultural Centre was the Chief Guest at the event. Prominent among those present at the event were noted Islamic scholar Akhtar-ul Wassey, Rohit Khera, Ranjan Mukherjee, the Directors of Khusro Foundation.

Mr. Quraishi, said: “It is a matter of great pride for all of us that children from various schools of Delhi participated in this event to celebrate ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’. Such events are a need of the hour.”

ALSO READ: First woman CM Sucheta Kripalani's inspiring journey

Professor Akhtarul Wassey, noted scholar of Islamic studies, said: “Indian Independence and democracy was a gift to us and today our country has reached greater heights and has made a strong position in the world order. This is the time to celebrate these achievements.”