MUMBAI: India Abroad, a newspaper targeted at South Asians in North America and popular portal Rediff.com will be sponsoring the Bollywood Music Awards at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan's New York Center on 9 November.

Bollywood, Bhangra and Indi-Pop music Award winners will be announced at this spectacular event where no effort will be spared to make it both different and memorable, an official release says.

Ron Mann, director of Rediff.com US Sales said: "This is the beginning of a grand tradition with the Bollywood Group which hosts the three largest awards ceremonies annually in America: the Bollywood Awards, Bollywood Music Awards and the Bollywood Fashion Awards. We are deeply cognizant of the fact that South Asians abroad maintain a warm and vibrant link with their homeland through the mediums of movies, music and fashion; India Abroad and Rediff.com are vehicles, which help maintain that link."

The stars who have confirmed their participation at the Awards event include: Kumar Sanu, Sonu Nigam, Kavita Krishnamurthi, Sunidhi Chauhan, Padma Bhushan Yesudas, Shaan, Jassi, Malkit Singh, Sukhbir, Devang Patel, Jazzy B and Shreya Ghosal of "Devdas" fame. Harish Bhimani will host the event.