Eight music talents feted with Chhinnalata Award

Kathmandu, July 17

Chhinnalata Geet Puraskar Guthi has awarded eight talents from the music sector.

At a programme organised in Kathmandu to mark the 102^nd Chhinnalata Day and 42^nd Prize Distribution Ceremony, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Trustee of Guthi, Joyti Rajya Laxmi Shah, felicitated the winners with a cash prize of Rs. 100,000 each and a plaque.

The organisation distributed the prize for the last two years – 2079 BS and 2080 BS.

Lyricist Bhushan Kharel, musician Manu Raja Nakarmi, and singer Shiva Pariyar won the prize in lyrics, music and singing for 2079.

Singer Menuka Poudel won the youth talent award for the same year.

Likewise, lyricist Birendra Pathak, musician Chandi Prasad Kafle, and singer Manila Sotang received the awards for best lyrics, music and singing respectively for 2080. Singer Bhupu Pandey received the youth talent award for the same year. The awards were conferred by PM Oli and Trustee of the Guthi, Pragya Rajeshwori Shah.

Speaking on the occasion, PM Oli said that Nepal was the land that immensely contributed to the development of art, culture, music and song.

This is the land of knowledge and its dissemination had started from here, he said while adding that the Richas of Vedas were written here. "This is the land of Shiva, Kapil Muni, Bramharshi Kaushik, Shushrut and many more. Music and songs originated from this holy land," he stated.

He appreciated Chhinnalata Geet Puraskar Guthi for finding the talents and awarding them, thus inspiring many talents.

Lyricist and former Secretary of the Government of Nepal, Dinesh Hari Adhikari, said that there was a need for a national level music institution to promote national and indigenous music and songs.

Trustee of the Guthi, Prof. Dr. Bashudev Tripathi, highlighted the contributions of Chhinnalata (Ramola Devi Shah) in lyrics and literature.

Chhinnalata was a renowned song writer of her era. The Guthi has so far awarded 190 talents from seven categories – lyrics, music, singing, youth talent, special felicitation, Chhinnalata felicitation and music composition.

The Guthi started distributing awards since 2039 BS. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 18 July 2024.