Baal Vikaas Vihaar 2015 Opens With Colour And Splendor

Port of Spain, Trinidad, May 19, 2015: Eight Primary Hindu Schools across the country assembled at the Don Miguel Road Hindu School in El Socorro on May 18, to participate in the 30th annual Baal Vikaas Vihaar School’s competition. This is the 7th consecutive year Republic Bank Limited has collaborated with the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha to host the cultural festival. The schools which took part in the preliminary round of the festival included:- Riverside Hindu, Monroe Road Hindu, El Socorro Hindu, Durham Hindu, Spring Village Hindu, Caroni Hindu, Don Miguel Hindu and Aranguez Hindu.

The competition took the form of the students participating in categories such as; Ramayan Test Piece, Gita Slokas, Bhajan Singing, Local Classical Singing, Instrumental, Folk Song and Dance.

Speaking at the opening of the festival, Republic Bank’s San Juan, Branch Sales Manager, Richard Mc Letchie, said “the Bank holds deep hope for the positive future for the Festival, for the students and for the nation as a whole. It is for that reason that Baal Vikaas Vihaar holds a special place in our hearts, because as it preserves cultural traditions, it inspires young people- our future leaders,” he added.

The Bank is sponsoring the event as part of its commitment to youth development through culture through its corporate social responsibility initiative, the Power to Make a Difference.

The preliminaries continue this week with the finals being hosted on June 6 and 7 at the headquarters of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, St. Augustine.