CONGRATULATIONS are in order for the talented Guyanese, Devieka Chetram of the Tarana Dance Centre of Toronto, who won the Shri Prakash Gossai Award for Excellence in the arts. The Indo-Caribbean World reported that the award was introduced this year and Ms. Chetram, an accomplished dancer, has the distinct honour of being the first recipient of the award. She was selected by a team of distinguished community leaders. She was recognised for her outstanding contribution in promoting Indian classical dance in Toronto. Devieka expressed her gratitude to the selection committee and organisers of the award for choosing her for the distinguished honour in recognising her dancing performances and training others in classical dance. She pledged to continue to promote Indian dance.
Recently one evening she was honoured, Devieka choreographed several dance items in tribute to Gossai at a function at the (Guyanese) Vedic Cultural centre in Toronto. Among the dance items were an invocation – ‘Gang Gang Ganapati’ and classical dances to bhajans ‘Muraliya Baje’ and ‘Har Har Mahadev’. Other dance pieces included a Darbari Tarana and musical Megh.
The spiritual concert opened with the national anthems of Guyana, India and Canada, followed by the lighting of the diya by officials from the Vedic Cultural Centre/Mandir and directors of the dance group.
The teachers and students of Panwar Music and Dance Company enthralled the audience at the 3rd Annual Prakash Gossai Shraddhanjali concert held at the Vedic Cultural Centre.
Before each song item was sung, the meanings of the songs were explained so that the audience could understand the deep sentiments expressed in the ghazals and bhajans. This was followed with superb kathak dance movements done with grace, mesmerizing the large gathering. Congrats to the organisers of the event and to the initiators of the Gossai Annual Memorial Award in honour of this outstanding exponent of the Hindu scriptures and bhajan singer.