Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 24: The ninth edition of the prestigious SaMaPa Aalap Festival (SAF), the premier music festival of J&K and one of the biggest music festivals of the country, concluded in a grand function held at the Jodhamal Public School, here today.
SAF 2014 was presented by SaMaPa (Sopori Academy of Music And Performing Arts) in collaboration with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Department of Tourism, Jammu.
The 15 day long festival began on February 10, 2014 and featured around 50 performers in around 25 different venues of Jammu, Katra, Udampur, Akhnoor and various Border areas like Poonch, Rajouri, R S Pura, etc. Various discourses on music and culture were also organized by SaMaPa during the concerts.
The beauty of SAF 2014 was that apart from various big names of Indian music who enthralled the city of temples with their music presentations, various musicians from the State along with young children also performed in the festival.
The concluding event of SAF 2014 featured Santoor recital by the music legend, the king of strings and the Saint of Santoor, Pandit Bhajan Sopori.
Pt Sopori presented a melodious morning melody Raga Ahiri Todi commencing with Aalap-Jod, Sufiana Tarana “Dim Tana Ta Dare Ta Dani” in Ektaal and Bandish “Hari Hari Naam Jap Le Manwa” in Teentaal.
He was accompanied on Tabla by Ustad Akram Khan, one of India’s finest Tabla exponents and his disciples Veethika Tikoo on Santoor and Saurabh Zadoo on vocals. Pt Sopori, who is regarded as the cultural bridge of the J&K State with the country, said that every child has to be introduced to the magical richness of Indian classical music and arts.
Earlier, the programme began with the lighting of traditional lamp amidst chanting of mantras by the students of the School. Principal T S Bist presented the vote of thanks.
The concert was attended by around 1000 students and music connoisseurs including Prof Aparna Sopori, Nandan Kuthiala, Trustee of Jodhamal School who along with young students presented mementos to the guests.
Maestro Abhay Rustum Sopori in his address said that SaMaPa widens its horizon into the general masses by creating the right platform for better appreciation and understanding of music in leading a more balanced life as well as exploring opportunities as means of employment.
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