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| Tejinder Singh, the winner of the title of Mr Singh International 2012, poses with first runner-up Deepinder Singh (right) and second runner-up Tarundeep Singh Picture: EPA/RAMINDER PAL SINGH |
Chandigarh, December 17, 2012: It's a pageant to showcase Sikh pride and it does that with elan. The annual Mr Singh International Turban Pride competition saw the brainy and the brawny among the Sikh youth from India and abroad show off their skills at the pageant held in Amritsar on Sunday.
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| A contestant poses as he takes part in the Traditional Attire round Picture: EPA/RAMINDER PAL SINGH |
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| The organisers hope that the pageant will inspire young men to wear traditional Sikh attire, including the turban. Picture: EPA/RAMINDER PAL SINGH |
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| ...and physique. Picture: EPA/RAMINDER PAL SINGH |
The pageant, which was launched in 2005, was introduced to fight against stereotypes and promote Sikh culture and traditions all over the world.
Tejinder Pal Singh Kathua of Kashmir bagged this year's Mr Singh International 2012 title after a fierce battle with 25 other finalists.
Deepinder Singh, a young Sikh boy from Ludhiana was declared the first runner-up while Tarandeep Singh from Amritsar bagged the third position.
Noted filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar and singer Rabbi Shergill were also present at the finale.
The competition was organised by two religious outfits -Akal Purakkh Ki Fauj and Chief Kalhsa Dewan.
This year saw young Sikhs from across the globe, including the UK, Canada, Mauritius and Australia, participate in the competition.
The contestants were competing in four categories -physique, traditional attire, royal attire and talent.
Jaswinder Singh Jassi, media director, Akal Purakh Ki Fauj said: " The participants underwent evaluation for their education, physique and personality. The knowledge of Sikhism was an essential qualification for the title." The organisers revealed that the idea of holding Mr Singh International contest had occurred to them in 2003.
"A former SGPC member Jaswinder Singh Advocate and I explored the possibility of holding such an event and met noted filmmaker Yash Chopra.
"Yash Chopra suggested that we should nurture the talent of the Sikh boys who could act in films as well," Jaswinder said.
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http://direct.sikhnet.com/news/mr-singh-international-2012-amritsar-generate-awareness-about-sikhism
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mr-Singh-International-2012-wwwapkfnet/149082805167584