Rains fail to dampen Prakriti’s maiden show in Sikkim

RABONG, April 13: The rains threatened to be put a dampener to the much-awaited event, but it failed to deter the spirits of thousands of enthusiastic fans, who braved the hostile weather to see their Chote Ustaad perform live.
The grand finale of the five-day Rabong Discovered festival held at the Cho-Dzo lake here on April yesterday was an event to remember with Prakriti Giri being the star attraction.
For the Chote Ustaad top 3 finalist, it was her maiden performance after her run for the title was cut short in the final attempt for the top 2 spot.
The Cho-Dzo lakeside venue lit up with her energetic performance, in spite of bad weather and the inability of Indian Idol Prashant Tamang to make to the event because of the prevailing tension in Darjeeling. Sources indicated that Prashant's security did not want to risk driving him in the storm to Sikkim.
The fact that this was Prakriti’s first show anywhere after Chote Ustaad was reason enough for the crowd to wait patiently through the storm.
Prakriti was accompanied by her parents and her sister during her first ever trip to Sikkim. For more than five hours, Prakriti enthralled the audience with her renditions. "I want to thank you all for the love and support you have shown to me throughout. I am very happy to be here in Sikkim and thank the organizers for having invited me,’ Prakriti said to the much delight of the Sikkimeli Janata.
Prakriti was also felicitated by the Rabong Tourism Development Committee (RTDC), the organizers of the Festival for her spirited performance in the Chote Ustaad contest during the show.
Two star performers from Kathmandu invited by the organisers had already kept the crowd enthralled much before Prakriti took centre stage.
Sudip Giri and Anju Pantha both from Kathmandu belted out their popular numbers. Aaja Bholi from Sudip Giri's album is his first major hit. He also has to his credit another album called Frenz and his videos are aired on Nepali music channels.
Anju Panth is a Nepali playback singer and her remixes of old folk numbers are popular some of which were released in a new Nepali movie. DIG Range, Akshay Sachdeva who was the guest of honour and a singer and musician himself, also belted out two numbers.
Earlier in the day, the chief guest, additional chief secretary TT Dorji handed over the prizes and certificates for the State level flower festival, handicrafts and the photo exhibition and contests.
http://www.sikkimexpress.com/otherstories.htm