Chandigarh, November 11
Avinash Kumar, who scored 94 per cent marks in Class X, CBSE (2005-06), was awarded “Best Student of the Year” trophy on the annual day function of Air Force School, 3 BRD Chandigarh, here today.

The programme commenced with traditional lighting of the lamp.This was followed by Saraswati vandana by the students.

Draped in colourful costumes, the scintillating performance by the tiny tots depicting the sanctity of various Indian festivals had the audience relive the verve and happiness of such occasions.

The energetic children of junior wing danced to the English numbers “Brown Girl in the Ring” and “Cindrella’s Good Manners”. The audience was touched as “Jallianwala Bagh Massacre” was re-enacted.

The English play “The China Dog”, the dance “Chanda Chamke”, Hindi play “Ek Shadi Aisi Bhi’ and foot-tapping Punjabi and Rajasthani folk dances marked the day. 

Chandigarh, November 11
Nineteen teams from different schools participated in the two-day 15th annual one-act play festival ‘Sambhang Natyotsav, on the opening day at the auditorium of the Government College for Girls here.

The annual event, organised by the Sambhang theatre group in collaboration with the GCG-11 and the State Bank of India, PU branch, was sponsored by the Department of Public Relations and Cultural Affairs, Chandigarh Administration.

Natyotsav is organised in the memory of Prabhat Gupta, a theatre artiste who sacrificed his life while saving the life of a child in 1987. He acted in 25 plays, directed 8 plays and wrote 4 plays.

Winners: best play: GMSSS: DAV Public School, 8-C, third: Stepping Stones 38-C; best actor: Kartik (DAV-8), second: Kunal Sharma (Stepping Stones); best actor female: K. Kaur (GMSSS, PGI), and Nisha Bhatt.

Chandigarh, November 11
The Children’s Day celebration at the Plaza, Sector 17, this evening brought colour, vibrancy and enthusiasm to the fore. Organised by the Centre for Carnival Arts and sponsored by the Tribune, the carnival attracted a large number of revellers. Not only did the carnival have spirited performances by children and adults but a bright Artists Corner was set up to add zing to the event.

With 21 performances by amateur and professional troupes, little children and schools, there was an air of festivity which filled the air.

While six-year-old Saurabh Prashar did ‘bhangra’ with feisty zest, Kanupriya, dressed up in red gown and boots, set the stage alight with her jiggles and moves on a Bollywood track.

The group dance by five little girls from Satyug Darshan Kala Kendra Samiti, complete with ‘matkas’ (pots), ‘ghagras’ and flowing cheerful ‘chunnis’ charmed the audience.

The Haryanvi dance, songs and even nine-year-old Manik’s invigorating performance on the drums had the audience hooting with delight. The grand finale for the evening was by the Hum Tum Dance Troupe from Sector 38 West who with their ‘fire dance’ and agile choreography had the crowd enthralled.

While music and ‘masti’ kept the audiences glued, the Artists Corner bustled with people lining up to see senior city-based artist Ravinder Sharma demonstrate the way to evolve creative paintings from colours splashed on fabric.

Using pure cotton, he mixed colours and then searched for forms on them even etching out a Lord Ganesh on one. “I have been doing this for two years now and it is really a tremendous feeling seeing so many people coming here and enjoying the festive air,” he smiled.

Sitting beside him were a motley group of young budding artists from the Government College of Art, Sector 10, all ready with paint and brush to make tattoos and even portraits for those interested.