KATHMANDU: Columbus-based 13-year-olds Arya Khanal and Khushi Adhikari have emerged victorious in singing and dance competitions, respectively, at a Nepali talent contest featuring participants from seven U.S. cities.

The event, organized by the Intra National Welfare and Support Foundation of America, took place on Dec 20–21 in Akron, Ohio.

Competitors came from Nepali communities in Columbus, Akron, Cincinnati, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Pittsburgh, and Scranton.

In the singing category, Arya Khanal of Columbus took first place, followed by Diganta Gurung of Cincinnati in second and Kunjan Subedi of Columbus in third.

In dance, Khushi Adhikari of Columbus claimed the top prize, with Ayusa Chapagai of Lancaster finishing second and Samantha Kshetri of Harrisburg third.

Foundation President Dilli Adhikari highlighted that the organization has been working for over a decade to connect Nepali-American children with their cultural roots through music and dance. “We aim to instill pride in their Nepali identity while passing on our heritage to the next generation,” he said.

The competition also featured group dance performances, where Lancaster, Harrisburg, and Columbus teams placed first, second, and third, respectively.

Each winning individual received cash prizes of $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000, while group winners were similarly rewarded.

The event saw 22 participants in solo singing, 34 in solo dance, and six groups competing in collective dance.

Judges for singing included Anju Panta, Sujata Verma, and singer Arjun Rasaily, while dance was evaluated by Dilip Rayamajhi, Saranga Shrestha, and dance expert Aarti Sharma.