Gurmat Sangeet Chair and Department of Gurmat Sangeet, Punjabi University Patiala is constantly organising Gurmat Sangeet Sammagam and Gurmat Sangeet Competition for the promotion of Gurmat Sangeet tradition amongst youth. The Eighth Gurmat Sangeet Utsav was organised by Gurmat Sangeet Chair – Department of Gurmat Sangeet, Punjabi University Patiala under the stewardship of Vice – Chancellor Dr. Jaspal Singh and Dr. Gurnam Singh with the collaboration of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee.
The mega event Gurmat Sangeet Sammagam was organised at Bebe Nanaki Sangeet Park in which renowned Keertankars Padam Shree Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa (Hazoori Raagi, Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar), Bhai Ravinder Singh (Hazoori Raagi, Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar), Bhai Balbir Singh (Former Hazoori Ragi, Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar), Bhai Amrik Singh Zakhmi (Jalandhar), Bhai Kultar Singh (Hazoori Ragi, Gurdwara Sri Sees Ganj Sahib, Delhi), Bhai Inderjit Singh (Hazoori Raagi, Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar), Dr. Jagir Singh (Chandigarh), Bibi Jaswinder Kaur (Delhi), Bibi Prabhjot Kaur (Batala), Bhai Kanwarpal Singh (Dehradun), Mata Vipanpreet Kaur (Ludhiana) gave their memorable presentations. Students of University School under the guidance of Bhai Jaspal Singh and students of the Department of Gurmat Sangeet under the guidance of Prof. Amandeep Singh along with winners of Gurmat Sangeet Competition – 2011 also performed in the Sammagam. The Keertankars delighted Sangat with their mystical performances.
On this occasion, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jaspal Singh stated that revival of various Gurmat School of Music will be revolutionary for the revival and promotion of Sikh Sacred Music and Gurmat Sangeet Chair – Department of Gurmat Sangeet is constanly working with full devotion. He also appreciated the performance level of Gurmat Sangeet participants. The winners of Gurmat Sangeet Competition – 2011 were awarded Cash prizes, medals and certificates during the Sammagam by Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jaspal Singh and Dr. Gurnam Singh. On this occasion, the winners of this competition also being awarded with Sant Sujan Singh, Prof. Tara Singh, Bhai Uttam Singh and Principal Shamsher Singh Kareer memorial awards.
Among the Sangat were present the Faculty and Students of Punjabi University. The prominent personalities present on the occasion were Advocate Satbir Singh Khatra, S. Sawinder Singh Sabharwal (Member SGPC), Mata Vipanpreet Kaur (Chairperson, Baba Kundan Singh ji Bhalai Kender, Ludhiana).
Along with Gurmat Sangeet Sammagam, the Gurmat Sangeet Competition – 2011 was held under various categories including Group Shabad Gayan, String Instruments (Tanti Saaz), Percussion Instruments (Taal Saaz) and Individual Shabad Gayan in Senior and Junior groups.
In Senior Category of Group Shabad Gayan, the teams that achieved First, Second and Third positions are Department of Music, Punjabi University Patiala; Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib and Gurmat Sangeet Academy, Anandpur Sahib respectively. Guru Gobind Singh Public School, Ludhiana has gathered the first prize in Junior Category while S.S. Model School, Punjabi University Patiala and Guru Nank Collegiate Sr. Sec. School, Batala were the winners of Second and Third Position in Group Shabad Gayan respectively.
Gurpreet Singh of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar won First Prize while Isher Singh of Sri Bhaini Sahib, Ludhiana and Karam Singh of Shri Bhaini Sahib, Ludhiana won Second and Third Prize respectively in Tanti Saaz Vadan in Senior Category. In Junior category of Tanti Saaz Vadan, Surpriya of Jalandhar won First Prize.
In Senior category of Taal Saaz Vadan, Sharanjit Singh of Kapurthala; Gurchetan Singh of Dance Department, Punjabi University Patiala and Simranjit Singh of Tarantaran won First, Second and Third positions respectively. Mohandeep Bawra of Jalandhar got First prize while Harmeet Singh of Ferozepur and Harjot Singh of Hoshiarpur got Second and Third prizes respectively.
In the Senior category of Individual Shabad Gayan, Manpreet Singh of Fatehgarh Sahib achieved First prize while Inderjit Singh of Ropar and Jasmeet Kaur Maan got Second and Third prizes respectively. In the Junior group of Individual Shabad Gayan, the students that won First, Second and Third positions are Bhupinder Singh of Punjabi University, Patiala; Simranjeet Kaur of Gurdaspur and Sahizpreet Kaur of Gurdaspur respectively.
The renowned scholars and musicians of this field that acted as judges are Dr. Bhagwant Kaur, Dr. Malkinder Kaur, Dr. Harjas Kaur, Prof. Gurpartap Singh Gill, Dr. Jagir Singh, Bibi Jaswinder Kaur, Dr. Navjot Kaur Kasel, Dr. Paramjit Singh, Dr. Jasbir Kaur and Sh. Ali Akbar.
