By Matters India Reporter
Darjeeling: In a Carol singing competition organized by a community radio and premiered on YouTube December 14, youth groups outperformed each other both in composition of original carols as well as its video production.
Radio Salesian 90.8 FM’s popular Jingle Bells Season 5, had 31 youth groups from Darjeeling, Sikkim, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik and other far flung areas sign up.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has not dampened the enthusiasm and creative expression of hill youth,” says Father C M Paul, Radio Salesian and Salesian TV director.
Original compositions in Nepali language was recorded on smart phones and transferred on-line to Radio Salesian and Salesian TV.
All 24 submissions were premiered simultaneously on Salesian TV (YouTube) for on-line competition which started at 10 am. Videos could be accessed on https://www.facebook.com/radiosalesian or on Salesian TV (YouTube Channel).
The voting will continue until 10 am on December 28 when the organizers will tabulate the total views for each carol.
The competition consists of securing the maximum views, over a period of two weeks to secure cash prize, trophy and certificate for first and second positions, as well as 3 consolation prizes for third, fourth and fifth positions.
“I am absolutely proud of all the participants for their excellent showcase of interest and talents for what they have created and achieved in these pandemic times,” says Salesian TV Program director Bruno Thapa complementing all 24 groups for their “exceptional final output which is a massive success for all of us.”
Comparing submissions to last years’ Carol competition Thapa says, “We have varieties of delightful visual treatments and promising works from the participants with different backgrounds having moderate knowledge about media techniques.”
Radio Salesian program director RJ Samir adds, “The groups have successfully created satisfactory visual contents with excellent original carol compositions displaying musical sense of traditional flavors into audio visual creation.”
For the first time this year, Radio Salesian conducted the competition in collaboration with Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) chapter of Darjeeling-Sikkim Diocese, Salesian Youth Movement Kolkata, and Don Bosco Job Placement Network, New Delhi.
Darjeeling-Sikkim Diocesan Youth Chaplain Fr George Lepcha says, “Some 400 young people from 24 parishes participated in the carol group as well as in the video production.”
The best 10 carol video presentations are shortlisted for packaging a television program in English and Nepali languages with RJ Bryan and RJ Moses anchoring in English and Nepali languages respectively.
Christened ‘Carols from the Hills,’ the half hour program is offered free to local cable television and YouTube Channels this Christmas.