Port Blair, Apr 08: Andaman & Nicobar Administration in association with Directorate of Tourism and Directorate of Sports is organizing ‘Beach sports competitions’ at Corbyn’s Cove Beach during the celebration of Beach Festival – 2013. The competition will be organized at Corbyn’s Cove from 19th April, 2013 to 21st April, 2013. Suitable prizes will also be awarded to the winners and runners of the team. It is proposed that Beach Volley Ball, Beach Kabbadi, Tug of War and Coconut Tree climbing competitions will be arranged.

Interested Govt. organization/Private/reputed hoteliers/Tour Operators may register their names with Directorate of Sports at Netaji Stadium on or before 16/4/2013 at 4.00 p.m. during office hours. Shri Joy Pinto, In-charge Sports (Ph:9474260888) may be contacted for further enquiry.

Port Blair, Mar 19: Mr. Naresh Chander Lal, an eminent film maker of these Islands will be honoured with prestigious Bharat Jyothi Award by the India International Friendship Society (IIFS).

India International Friendship Society (IIFS) is a reputed non-governmental organization providing best services to the countrymen. IIFS is also organizing a conference on “Economic Growth and National Integration” at New Delhi this month.

The conference will be attended by some of the cabinet Ministers of centre and states, Member of Parliaments, industrialists, social workers and intelligentsia’s.

The society will honor some of the meritorious Indian’s with the most prestigious “Bharat Jyothi Award” during the conference. The Bharat Jyothi Award is given to few of the men and women who have done extraordinary work in the field of Science and Technology, education, industry, engineering, fine arts, politics and social work.

Some of the past recipients of the Bharat Jyothi Award are Beatified Mother Teresa, former vice-president B.D. Jatti, Governors like Iqbal Singh, Shekhar Dutt, Dr. D.Y Patil etc.
This time the name of Mr. Naresh Chander Lal has been considered for the Bharat Jyothi Award 2013 which will be given during the conference in New Delhi this month.

Port Blair, Jan 27: A cultural program was organized under the banner of Bands of Prothrapur by the inmates of District Jail, Prothrapur on the occasion of Republic Day 2013. Inmates of the different countries i.e.Myanmar,Bangladesh&Indiaactively participated in the event. They performed dances, songs drama.

Mr. G. Thava Neethi Dhas, Secretary (Jail) was the chief guest and Mr. Pankaj Kumar Singh, Inspector General (Prisons) was the guest of honour.

The Chief Guest appreciated the cultural program and advised them to continue their efforts in future. The Inspector General (Prisons) assured that the cultural activities will continue and the inmates will be motivated to come forward and participate thus giving them an alternative route for reformation.

The program ended with vote of thanks by the Inspector General (Prisons) followed by National Anthem. 

Port Blair, Jan 03: The tourism department of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is all set to host the annual carnival of remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the ‘Island Tourism Festival’ from 5th to 15th January 2013 across 18 venues in A & N Islands.

Addressing a press conference this morning, the Director of Andaman’s Tourism Department, Mr. Amit Satija said that attractions of this year’s festival is the blend of classical, folk, ethnic art forms of India with popular forms of India with popular form of entertainment like mega shows of Bollywood and TV fame artists, comedy shows, Kawali etc. while most of the actions are centered in the capital city of Port Blair, the tourism department has taken initiatives to provide opportunity to people of far-flung islands right from extreme South Campbell Bay to North Diglipur to enjoy the cultural feast.

“The Indian-idol fame singer Mr. Parashar Joshi and team will be travelling to outer islands like Campbell Bay, Kamorta, Carnicobar, Hut Bay, Wandoor, Wimberlygunj, Rangat, Mayabunder , Diglipur to entertain people along with Kolkata based rock band ‘Out of Control Bengalis’. Coinciding with the ITF, two other festivals namely Carnic Fest and Diglipur Vikas Mela are also being organized. The department has engaged professional event managers for organizing the special events this time,” Mr. Satija added.

In the classical front, performance of flute maestro Padmavibhushan Pandit Hariprasad Chouresia will be the star attraction. This performance is arranged in association with SPIC MACAY local chapter at the BR Ambedkar Institute of Technology Auditorium (BRAIT) Port Blair.

In the folk and ethnic art forms, about 200 artists from South Zone, East Zone Cultural Centers, Song and Drama Division will be travelling to perform in venues like ITF Ground, Amphitheatre, (Port Blair) Bhatubhasti, Wimberlygunj, Wandoor, Carnicobar, Baratang, Havelock and Neil Island.

In addition, 50 local cultural organizations will also be performing during the 10-day festival displaying talents of more than 500 artists through Art & Culture Department.

“In the popular entertainment category, mega show of Bollywood play back singer Neeraj Shridhar and Ms. Sara Shrawan (Film and TV Artist) is the event to look for. They will be backed up by performance of Bollywood dance troupe choreographed by Sri. Sumeet and Sri Sahil,” the Director added.

For Kawali audience, famous Sabri brothers (Sri Aftab Sabri and Sri Hashim Sabri) will be performing along with bollywood dancers. The festival will also see the comedy show of TV fame Ms. Bharati and VIP, he said.

The Island Tourism Festival will also have usual ingredients to attract tourist like, Floating Restaurant, Fruit and Vegetable show (at Sippighat farm), Baby show, pet shows, exhibition of stalls of government departments, mainland state tourism corporations (Delhi & Andhra Pradesh), private entrepreneurs, food courts, fireworks display and many more.