Sixty-five students from 12 schools across Jammu and Kashmir took the stage for the grand finale of the UT-Level Inter-School Dogri Singing and Poetry Competition 2026, which concluded in Jammu on October 21, Daily Excelsior reported.
The finale was organised jointly by Team Jammu, Duggar Baraadari and the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL), to promote Dogri and preserve Duggar cultural heritage. It was held on the birth anniversary of Maharaja Gulab Singh and opened with a tribute to him.
Who won
- Junior solo singing and poetry: Aadvik Verma (Shree Vidya Gurukul School) first; Kyra Jamwal (Oriental Academy Senior Secondary School) second; Shivansh Sharma (Oriental Academy School) third.
- Solo singing: Ritansh (Jammu Sanskriti School) first; Uma Verma (Heritage School) second; Sharanaya Dubey (Jammu Sanskriti School) third.
- Solo poetry: Youvraj Uttam (Government Higher Secondary School) first; Sonika Lalotra (Jammu Sanskriti School) second; Akashvi Choudhary (Army Public School) third.
- Group singing: Jaanvi and Saanvi (Bhram Rishi Bawra Vidhyapeeth School).
- Group poetry: Kavyanshika Raj, Avantika Dogra, Tanushveer and Prabhat Angural (Jammu Sanskriti School).
The judges and the message
The competition was adjudicated by Prof Anupama Sharma, Reeta Khadyal (editor of Dogri Shiraja, JKAACL), singer Sandhya Sharma, writer and poet Randhir Singh Raipuria and Dr Poonam Sharma, a singer, writer and poet.
Speakers at the event stressed the need to strengthen the teaching of Dogri in schools and to encourage children to speak, read and take pride in their mother tongue. The report names eight of the 12 participating schools through its winners; the full list of schools was not published.
Why it matters to young Jammu
Much of the debate about Dogri is about status and policy. This is the other half: whether children actually perform, sing and write in it. We have looked at that question before in Can Dogri Survive If Young Dogras Stop Speaking It? A school-level stage with a UT-wide field is one practical answer. Parents and teachers who want their students to enter next year's edition should ask JKAACL or the organisers for the dates; none have been announced.
Source: Daily Excelsior, 65 students participate in UT-level Dogri competition
