Guwahati: Hundreds of well-wishers and fans gave a rousing welcome to Manashi Saharia, making a triumphant return to her home state after winning the Voice India Kids Season 2 in Mumbai.
Cheers rent the air at the LGBI airport as Manashi emerged from the arrival lounge. Drums rolled out Bihu beats while garlands and gamosas almost engulfed the diminutive celebrity.
Manashi's story is like a fairy tale come true. The 11-year-old Class VI student conquered all odds, including poverty, to script success that has made every Assamese proud. Daughter of musicians Anupam Saharia and Jitu Moni Saharia, a masters in music at the Bhatkhande Music Institute in Lucknow, Manashi started training in singing under her parents' mentorship from age three.
She was selected in the Northeast round of the singing reality show Voice India Kids Season 2, aired by And TV in Guwahati. She qualified in the eastern zone round in Calcutta. Her journey would have ended there as the family did not have enough money to take her to Mumbai for the penultimate contest. Following an appeal by well-wishers, people from her native Udmari village in Mangaldoi and surrounding towns chipped in to make her dream a reality.
During the show, she regaled the judges and viewers with her performances. Her coach Palak Muchhal complimented her, saying that Manashi had grown "exponentially" through the show.
Manashi competed for the title with five other contestants - Shekinah Mukhiya, Guntaas Kaur, Mohammad Faazil, Shruti Goswami and Neelanjana Ray. She got the winner's trophy and a cheque for Rs 25,00,000 on Sunday night. Shruti, an Assamese girl from Guwahati, won the runners-up crown.
A festive atmosphere prevailed on Wednesday in Manashi's village Udmari, a remote hamlet of 300 people near Kalaigaon in Darrang district, around 88km from Guwahati. She was escorted there in a motorcade of bikes and cars after a stopover in Mangaldoi town where she was felicitated by many organisations.
Talking to The Telegraph from Mangaldoi over phone, her father said: " I am very happy to see the love and affection of the people of my home town." A tired Manashi said: "I am very thankful to all people of my village who consistently encouraged me and had faith in my talent. I am blessed to have been mentored under the guidance of Palak Muchhal because she inspired me in my journey. The Voice India Kids inspired me and gave me a reason to believe that talent can emerge from such platforms."
Manshi did not forget to thank singer Papon who helped her perfect the rendition of Assamese songs, especially the Bihu numbers.
Incidentally, Papon had to make an ignominious exit as a judge in the contest due to a controversy and subsequent court case regarding his conduct with a minor girl.
Earlier, at the airport, Manashi thanked people of Assam for having supported and voted for her. "I am proud to have represented my home state. Joi Ai Axom".
Additional Reporting By Pranab Kumar Das
