TVSquad

I was up last night wondering why there isn't a series on television that allows me to show off my greatest talent: singing Buddhist hymns.

Finally, someone has granted my wish: Master of Music, a new competition series on India's Aastha channel, will pit singers against one another as they sing their favorite hymns from the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain faiths. Finally, rather than listening to some awful Elton John tune you can rock out to "Vishnu Aarti:"

Maat-Pita Tum Mere, Sharan Gahun Kiskee Tum Bin Aur Na Duja, Aas Karun Jiskee, Om Jaye Jagdish Hare . . .

That's not actually a Buddhist hymn, but I like to keep my record collection diverse. Also, I've sung "Vishnu Aarti" at karaoke so many nights I pretty much have it memorized. People seem to love it, though drunken frat boys calling out for "Buddham Saranam Gacchami" can become annoying.

If you haven't yet figured it out, Aastha is a religious channel. One of the top prizes for Masters of Music is a pilgrimage to a religious destination. There is no cash prize. The show is currently looking for participants.