Mysuru: Internationally acclaimed violinist Dr. Mysore M. Manjunath said, vachana music and literature are the new art forms that were included along with hundreds of musical styles in Indian music genre.

He was speaking after inaugurating Vachana singing contest organised by Sharana Sahitya Parishat, Mysuru city unit as part of its endowment programme at Rajendra Bhavan, JSS Hospital premises in city on Monday.

Dr. Manjunath said, Sharanas have composed vachanas in a simple language on the basis of religious and relevant issues. The amount of solace one gets while reading Vachanas is even more when one listens to  Vachana songs.

Entrepreneur Y. Veerabhadra and endowment philanthropists  Nanjunda Swamy and Shanthakumar were present.

Bhuvaneshwari Radhakrishna and Nithin Rajarama Shastry were the juries.

Prize winners

Senior Category: Bhagwan – 1st prize; Shashikala – 2nd, C. Sowmya – 3rd and Suguna & Lavanya – Consolation prize.

Junior Category: Venugopal – 1st, Aagna Pranav – 2nd and Anagha – 3rd.

Prof. Mallesh and Manjula were present on the occasion.