Nima Tsomu of Shagti village and Tenzin Tsongyal Gyamo of Zemithang won the Voice of Dhagpa Rigzhung Sergyaling and Voice of Dhagpaneng respectively.

Nima Tsomu of Shagti village and Tenzin Tsongyal Gyamo of Zemithang won the Voice of Dhagpa Rigzhung Sergyaling (folk song) and Voice of Dhagpaneng (modern category) respectively at the grand finale of Season 3 of the competition held at Lumla’s General Ground Mayu on Sunday.

The contest is an initiative of Lumla MLA Jambey Tashi since 2012 for providing a platform to young talented singers as well as for encouraging the younger generation to learn and preserve folk songs.

The contest had begun on September 3.

The grand finale was attended by Dirang MLA Phurpa Tsering and Thrizino Buragaon MLA Kumsi Sidisow.

“I have witnessed fast development and changing the social status of the people of Lumla,” Tsering said, adding the constituency has attained new heights of development in the past decade.

Sidisow said he was happy to see so much development in Lumla under Tashi’s leadership.

He congratulated all the participants and appreciated the organisers and Tashi for promoting and preserving the rich culture and folk songs through such mega competitions.

He also promised to jointly sponsor the prize money for next VOD and Dhagpa Rigzhung Sergyaling with the Dirang MLA.

“We are proud that the winners of Voice of Dhagpaneng and Dhagpa Rig-Zhung Sergyaling Season 2 competed in the district level mega singing competition Mon-Sergyaling and Mon Rigzhung Sergyaling and won both the titles,” Tashi said in his address.

He congratulated little singing sensation Urgen Tsomu for taking part in the contest at the national level with trained singers.

Tsomu sang in Sunday’s grand finale as a special performer.

In Dhagpa Rigzhung Sergyaling category Nima Tsomu was declared winner while Bir Khandu and Tsangpa Tashi were first runner-up and second runner-up respectively.

In Dhagpaneng category Tenzin Tsongyal Gyamo was winner, Dorjee Passang was first runner-up and Mann Gombu was declared second runner-up.

Damien Lepcha is Northeast Now Correspondent in Arunachal Pradesh. He can be reached at: [email protected]