Ehsan Fazili/Srinagar

Around 50,000 school-going students and others from across Jammu and Kashmir are participating in the first round of the National Anthem Singing Competition organized by the government on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Independence Day. So far 9,000 entries, a large number of them from what was once a citadel of terrorism, South Kashmir, have been received online by the Information department.

In view of the overwhelming response and the demand for extension of the deadline for sending the enteries, the authorities have announced a second round of competition. 

The NCC cadets from J&K who are ready to celebrate the Independence Day

While the enteries for the first round were invited from August 1 to 7, 2022 in age groups of 13-18 years, and above 18 years in the individuals categories in the group singing (No age bar), for the second round the enteries were opened on wednesday - from August 9-15.

Only the residents of the Union territory are eligible to apply.

The enteries for the competition will be judged at the district level. This is part of government’s elaborate plan to celebrate 75 years of independence and commemorate it as ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav.’

A Young girl from Jammu saluting the tricolour

Director Information and Public Relations, Akshay Labroo  said, “Under this competition around 9,000 entries having around 50, 000 participants were received from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir which is four times more than the entries received last year and almost equal submissions were received from both Jammu and Kashmir divisions.”

He said that especially the districts of South Kashmir are leading and have given overwhelming response in the number of enteries for the competition.

The entries received will be sent to respective Deputy Commissioners who would pick the best three renditions of the anthem in each category. The winners from each district would sing the National Anthem at their respective district headquarters on the Independence Day.

Students with class teacher rehearsing their national anthem singing

The list of district level winners would be forwarded to the Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, who would then finalise the winners.

The winners of the competition will get cash awards of Rs 25,000, Rs 11,000 and Rs 5,000 for first, second and third prizes respectively besides getting an opportunity to perform the National Anthem at the Divisional level Independence Day celebrations.

Jammu and Kashmir is soaked in the colours of national flag and fervour of Azadi Mohotsav with people posting colourful pictures of celebrations on social media.