GOPIO Waikato marked ‘Hindi Day’ on September 14 to acknowledge the important status occupied by the language in Indian Cinema, which celebrated its centenary recently.
Called, ‘Mehfil 2013,’ the event included rendition of songs by Priya, Beljit Kaur, Rajani Sharma and the author of this report.
It was a joyous evening, which enlisted the participation of a cross-section of the community and younger members of the society.
Prabh Saran Singh, main singer of the evening, captured the hearts of listeners with his melodious voice, rendering songs by Jagjit Singh, Pankaj Udhas, Anup Jalota and other famous singers. Manpreet Singh of Auckland accompanied him on the Tabla.
Launched a few years ago, ‘Hindi Day’ has featured discussions, seminars and other literary and cultural events.
As well as preserving the cultural and traditional values, language forms a strong link between peoples and generations. While the theme for the annual event varies, the emphasis this year was on local talent.
