One of the more popular musical evenings organised on the last Monday (or “antim somvari”) of the holy month of Shravan will go virtual this year.

Philanthropic organisation Har Har Mahadev Seva Sangh has decided to hold the event online on Monday, August 3 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. "We do not want to dishearten devotees who used to come in large numbers to witness the musical show. We will beam the proceedings live through our Facebook page," said Amarpreet Singh Khanuja Kale , founder of the sangh that has been holding the soiree for the last two decades.

Kale said they have invited local artists who would perform at the outfit’s office in Sakchi . The rituals would also be performed simultaneously, keeping in mind the Covid safety protocols, he added. Only a few invitees would be allowed to attend the two-hour programme beginning at 6:30 pm.

Among the highlights of the evening is the Sang Ratna Seva Award which was instituted for honouring professional excellence and distinguished service. This year the will be presented to Ratan Joshi, a senior journalist of the steel city and homeopath doctor Chandrashekhar Jha.

Last year, singer Kailash Kher had enthralled an audience of over 30,000 at the gurdwara ground.

Bhojpuri singer-turned-politician Manoj Tiwary, acclaimed bhojpuri singers Bharat Sharma, Devi, Kalpana Patowary, Padma Shri Malini Awasthi and bhajan singer Anup Jalota have performed at earlier events.

The organisers said that the district administration had permitted the function at the Sakchi office on Monday amid the presence of a few people.