(13 December 2006 10:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Worldspace Satellite Radio , a satellite-based digital radio services has laucnhed the first ever 24-hour national Gujarati radio channel, Radio Umang.

Channel No 111 on the Worldspace Satellite Radio Network, Radio Umang presents a platform, showcasing the diversity of Gujarat’s musical traditions – ranging from the tunes of the Garba and Dandia Raas to the Sugam Sangeet and Ghazals and more, asserts an official release.

Worldspace managing director Shishir Lall said, "Radio Umang is our latest offering and the country’s first-ever 24-hour Gujarati channel and the ninth regional channel on the Worldspace Satellite Radio Network. Our refreshing advertising-free format, enables music aficionados to quench their thirst for quality radio programming in virtually any part of the country, thereby creating a truly pan-Indian radio experience.”

Radio Umang joins a portfolio of Indian regional language channels at Worldspace which currently offers eight other dedicated regional radio channels with programming in Tamil (KL Radio), Malayalam (RM Radio), Telugu (Spandana), Kannada (Sparsha), Bengali (Tara), Punjabi (Tunak Punjabi) Urdu (Falak) and Marathi (Surabhi).

Worldspace senior advisor content Velu Shankar said, "Radio Umang presents to its listeners opportunity and range of programs from folk music to modern Gujarati music, poetry and literature giving them a glimpse into the exciting world of Gujarati culture."

Some programs on Radio Umang are :

- Suravali Ashit Ni – A show hosted by celebrity Ashit Desai as he takes listeners through some of his popular songs from various genres of Gujarati music every Saturday 9 to 11 pm.

- Taajgi – A breakfast show hosted by radio entertainer Ajinkya Sampat. It will showcase Gujarati music from film songs to garba, folk songs and light music and will also provide interesting facts and trivia on music.

- Be Ghadi Anand – An evening show with playback singer Hema Desai who would share interesting facts about Gujarati culture, literature and music.

- Makhmali Mehfil – Host by Gujarati theatre actor Aanand Goradiya the show will celebrate the lilting rhythms of Gujarati ghazals from Purushottam Upadhyay and Ashit Desai to Manhar Udhas.