Amit Paul responds to cheers of the crowd during his performance at Polo Ground on Thursday.  

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: Amit Paul sang his heart out as thousands of his fans, including tiny tots, swayed to his golden voice at Polo Ground here on Thursday. It was chock-a-block at Jawarharlal Nehru Stadium, which saw the State Government formally felicitate the singing sensation after his glittering performance at Indian Idol 3 on Sony Entertainment Television (SET).

Shillongites, nay people of Meghalaya, once again proved that Amit continues  to remain their 'Idol,' besides being Meghalya's Brand Ambassador for Peace and Communal Harmony.

Amit set the Polo Ground on fire by crooning many evergreen Hindi songs. He also beautifully sang some memorable numbers in Khasi, Assamese, Bengali and Nepali. The crowd erupted in boundless joy as he immaculately rendered Pehla Nasha and Nasha Yeh Pyar Ka Nasha, making them asking for some more.

A record number of people, bigger than the crowd seen during Amit's first homecoming on September 3 since he joined the SET talent hunt, turned up at the venue for official felicitation of the local lad.

An all-smile Amit thanked the audience for the love and affection showered on him.

"I love you. I love Shillong," he told the crowd at the end of the felicitation programme.

Earlier, State Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee honoured Amit with a blazer with the Meghalaya Brand Ambassador emblem on it.

Chairman of the felicitation committee Paul Lyngdoh congratulated Amit on his success as the 'Idol' of the people of Meghalaya. A cheque of Rs 1 lakh was also presented to Amit at the function.

Meanwhile, the Shilllong Arts and Music Lovers Forum (SAMLF), which had earlier led the 'Vote for Amit Campaign', boycotted the day's function in protest against not being part of the official felicitation committee.

Though the State Government had not declared October 4 as a holiday, thin attendance was recorded in almost all government offices in the capital city after 12 pm thanks to the craze for Amit.