9 Jan : The Malwa Sabyacharak Manch organized the Lohri Mela here with great fervour and gaiety. The Secretary and spokesman of the All India Congress Committee, Manish Tewari was the chief guest who distributed the awards and honours.
The manch has been organizing the mela for last fifteen years. However, the difference of the mela is that this is celebrated for the girl child. As the lohri is usually celebrated for the male child, the manch has set a different and positive precedent.
According to the organizers of the mela, given the alarming sex ratio against the female child, celebrating the lohri for the male children only needs to be discouraged. The lohri should be celebrated for the girl child with equal enthusiasm and gaiety. That is the reason why the lohri mela organized by the Malwa Sabyacharak Manch is celebrated for the girl child only.
The manch also honoured a number of people who have made outstanding contribution to various fields of life. Also 15 girls were given a scholarship of Rs 51,00 each for their education.
Dr. M.S. Randhawa Memorial Award was Presented to Dr. K.S. Aulakh. For contribution to Agricultural Brig. Dalip Singh Olympian Memorial Award Presented to Miss Mandep Kaur. For contribution to Sports Sh. Lal Chand Yamla Jatt Memorial Award Presented to Inderjit Nikku For contribution to Punjabi Folk Singing
Dr. V.N. Tewari Memorial Award Presented to Prof. Gurbhajan Gill For contribution to Punjabi Culture & Literature Mohd. Rafi Memorial Award Presented to Jaspinder Narula For contribution to Film Playback Singing Bhai Ghanaya Memorial Award Presented to Dr. Inderjit Kaur. For contribution to Social Services Mother Teressa Memorial Award Presented to Varinder Kaur. For contribution to Sacrifice Dalip Singh Sond (M.P.- USA) Memorial Award Presented to Mandeep Singh Hans. For contribution to Social Services I.S. Johar Memorial Award Presented to Mr. Rana Ranbir. For contribution to Comedy.
The awardees were presented with a gold medal, memento, shawl and a citation. Also rewris, gachak, pugga, and pea nuts were distributed among the people on the occasion.
Thousands of people attended the function as they were enthralled by leading singers like Labh Janjua (of Singh is King fame), Inderjit Nikku, Diljit, Sarbjit Cheema, Ravinder Grewal, Sukhwinder Sukhi and others.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included AICC secretary and spokesman, Manish Tewari, chairman of the manch KK Bawa, president Pawan Dewan, patron Surinder Singh Kooner, convener Ravinder Rangoowal, vice president Chaman Lal Batra, vice chairman Ashok Makkar and general secretaries Joginder Singh and Jarnail Singh Toor. Besides, noted cultural activist Jagdev Singh Jassowal was also present on the occasion.