`Chandigarh In Spring’ photography and poetry contest unveiled

Chandigarh: Shutterbugs, poets & poetesses have reason to rejoice, a unique  photography & poetry writing contest -  'Chandigarh in Spring' , themed on Chandigarh's beautiful spring season, will be held between 19th  to 31st March, 2021. The winners in different categories will take away prizes worth 60,000 in total. The contest was unveiled at a press meet held by organisers and jury members at Chandigarh Club here. CityWoofer, a unique online platform that is the 'to-go' place for information on happenings, events, places, eating joints for city residents to choose & then plan a visit, is organising the contest.
 
Dr Anu Dua Sehgal, the contest's curator said, "There will be two categories - professionals and amateurs for photography. Participants will be encouraged to click a picture that represents Chandigarh in spring, the picture submitted should be the original copyright of the sender."
 
Dr Archana R. Singh, a poetess & Professor, School of Communication, PU; who is the judge of the poetry competition said, "The event is open for poetry entries. Those who want to contribute can write a poem or prose to express the city’s spring spirit. Here again original works only will be accepted and plagiarism of any kind will disqualify the entry forthwith."
 
Sumeet Soni, Founder, CityWoofer said, "The contestants can get their names registered free of cost on our  website citywoofer.com. A special page has been created for ‘Chandigarh in Spring’. Each registered participant can upload one image or submit one poem to enter the contest. The entry would be validated by mobile phone."
 
Sumeet Soni further said, "The contest will culminate in a two-day exhibition of the shortlisted pictures. A poetry recitation too will be held at Sukhna Lake in the month of April, followed by a prize distribution."
 
The contest would be judged by 4 eminent personalities plus a committee that has worked in related fields. The members of the jury panel also took part in the press meet. Apart from Dr Archana R Singh the jury for the contest comprises some well-known personalities of the city beautiful, including Amit Sood, a renowned Photographer, Neeraj Jain, Director, JJ Nikkamal Jewellers and a photography enthusiast &  Vikram Bansal, an advertising professional & a passionate photographer.
 
Amit Sood, an award winning photographer said, "Spring is the season when nature bursts back to life, colours and flowers bloom after a long cold winter. Chandigarh, turns even more radiant with trees donning myriad shades of pinks, violets & reds. The season is a paradise for photographers, so the contest will provide a great platform to showcase one's talent with the lens."
 
Neeraj Jain said, "I would call the transformation from winter to spring Cinderella-like. The cityscape in this season gives poetic hearts many things to write about while the photography enthusiasts get busy capturing the hues and shades of life in Chandigarh."
 
Vikram Bansal said, "Indeed, love for Chandigarh and celebrating the spring season are the biggest reasons for anyone to take part in the contest."
 
Dr Anu Dua Sehgal added, "The contest gives participants a chance to win nine big prizes in poetry and photography; three each in professional and amateur categories plus three in the poetry category. There will be 10 early bird prizes. Small contests in-between like caption the picture; identify location, find odd-man out etc. will also be conducted."
 
Col (Retd) Inderjeet Kumar, President, Strategic Planning & Corporate Relations, Riverdale Aerovista said, "I am happy to announce that there will be a special contest on pictures of the Spanish architecture at Riverdale Aerovista. The creativity of photographers will be tested to the hilt as the subject is quite different and presents a beautiful marvel of architecture."
 
Apart from Riverdale Aerovista which is the presenting partner, JJ Nikkamal  Jewellers is the associate partner, CITCO and Chandigarh Club too are supporting the contest. Thunder Zone, Sultan, LayersX Salon, Baba Dairy, Cinepolis, Peddlers and Supreme Furnishing are also supporting the contest.