Republic Bank – SDMS Chowtaal Sammelan Launches 40th Annual Baal Vikaas Vihaar

Port of Spain, Trinidad, March 14, 2025: Forty-two (42) primary and secondary schools, across Trinidad and Tobago competed in the Republic Bank - Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) Chowtaal Sammelan on Saturday, March 8 - filling the Lakshmi Girls Hindu College in St. Augustine with song and colourful presentations. The event marked the official launch of the 40th annual Baal Vikaas Vihaar, celebrating the SDMS’ four decades of work in cultural preservation and youth development.

The students performed traditional Chowtaals – lively folk songs that are an integral part of the Phagwah (Holi) season. The performances were judged on drama, dance, rhythm and costume presentation, highlighting the students’ dedication to both tradition and artistic expression. The schools’ scores from the Chowtaal Sammelan contribute to their overall ranking in the Baal Vikaas Vihaar competition. To progress in this competition, these schools must also participate in other qualifying categories such as the Gita Test Piece, Ramayan Singing, Instrumental and Dance.

For the past 17 years, Republic Bank, through its Power to Make a Difference programme, has partnered with the SDMS Baal Vikaas Committee to support this initiative, reaffirming its commitment to cultural enrichment and youth empowerment. Delivering remarks at the event, Republic Bank’s General Manager, Data Governance and Management Unit, Shazard Mohammed, underscored the shared values of cultural preservation, education and artistic expression – values that align with the Bank’s mission to give young people the Power to Learn and the Power to Succeed.

With the Chowtaal Sammelan concluded, students now turn their focus to the Baal Vikaas preliminaries and finals, set for May and June, 2025 respectively.