KATHMANDU, Jan. 5: The Hyumat Tole-based Niva won the prize by shining out as the best band of the year at the Third Shikhar Music Beat Contest. The event was held at capital’s Dasharath Stadium on Saturday and Sunday.

The Niva was also adjudged the best for the bass guitarist and the best vocalist award, fetching it two more coveted prizes.

The second place was taken by Prerana Samuha, also from Kathmandu. The Panam, the band from Bara district took the third position.

The young performers of the winning band Niva say that they were inspired by Kicha, another band from Hyumat Tole.

Gopal Rasaili of the Green Chilli won the title of the best lead guitarist. Bikash of Niva judged the best bass guitarist. The title of the best rhythmist went to Darshan of Prerana Samuha while Pramod of Nissad came out as the best lyricist.

Preeti Singh of Nissad won prize for the best vocal performance and Kishan Khadgi of Panam was judged the best drummer. They won a prize of Rs. 6,000 each.

Eleven bands performed on the second day of the contest Sunday. Nine had given their performance on Saturday. The Dasharath Stadium burst to its seams with tens of thousands of cheering and the dancing audience.

The contest had drawn more than 90 bands from Kathmandu and other urban centres. Twenty bands, one from Bara and 19 from Kathmandu, made it to the final round. While most of them were men-only bands, there were some which had mixed members. The Creative was the sole all-women band.
The bands to perform in the second day were The Crescent, Green Chilli, The Maun, The Maze, The Creative, The Mritunjay, The Panam, The Prerana Samuha, The Shree Om, The Smooth and Who Cares.

Patriotism was the theme of the songs today, as against love on the first day. The Prerana Samuha dedicated its song to the late Royal Family members with Ekohoro Samjhana Airahanchha (We constantly remember) while Who Cares urged for peace in the country.

The centre of attraction was Gopal Rasaili of the Green Chilli mesmerized the crowd by playing guitar with his teeth and legs.

As guest artiste, Girish-Pranil enthralled the crowd with their song which threw a biting satire at the political parties and their activities. Other guest artistes of the day were singers Neema Rumbha and Nalina Chitrakar.

At the end of the two-day music fest, singer Deep Shrestha as chief guest awarded prizes to the winners amid thunderous applause from the audience.

The first prize carried a purse of Rs. 75,000, and the second the third Rs. 35,000 and Rs. 20,000 respectively. The individual prizes were worth Rs. 6,000 each.

The contest was sponsored by Surya Nepal Co. and Vogue Advertisement & Event Management.