Ranchi, 15 December (H.S.):

The Jharkhand Education Department on Monday launched the Eastern Zone School Band Competition at the Mega Sports Complex in Ranchi, drawing over 400 students from six eastern states to demonstrate their musical prowess.

Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) Director Shashi Ranjan formally inaugurated the two-day event, originally slated for December 14-15 but commencing today amid adjusted schedules.

Teams from Sikkim, Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Odisha, West Bengal, and host Jharkhand are competing, down from an initial plan for 11 states including Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Nagaland.

JEPC Special Project Officer and Organizing Secretary Dhirsen Soren noted the participation shift but emphasized the event's role in fostering discipline, teamwork, and patriotism among young participants.

Top four teams across categories will advance to the National School Band Championship, highlighting Jharkhand's growing expertise in hosting cultural and sporting events.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar