The ninth edition of the prestigious SaMaPa Aalap Festival (SAF), the premier music festival of Jammu & Kashmir, concluded today with a santoor recital by renowned maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori in which he 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.
The closing event at the Jodhamal Public School saw children having a great memorable experience as Pandit Sopori made them sing different phrases with him, Rhythmic patterns like Chandh and various compositions.
The audience was spellbound with the performance of the legendary maestro who was accompanied on tabla by Ustad Akram Khan, one of India’s finest tabla exponents and his disciples Ms. Veethika Tikoo on Santoor and Saurabh Zadoo on vocals, both young budding musicians from J&K.
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Pandit Sopori said every child has to be introduced to the magical richness of Indian classical music and arts. He appreciated the interest of the management, principal and the staff of the institution towards Indian culture and congratulated the young students on their presentation of violin and group Dogri song as a welcome to the great music legend before his recital.
The concert was attended by around 1000 students and music connoisseurs including Mrs. (Prof) Aparna Sopori, and Jodhamal School Trustee Nandan Kutiala
The 15 day long festival began on 10 February and featured around 50 performers in around 25 different venues of Jammu, Katra, Udampur, Akhnoor and various border areas like Poonch, Rajouri, R.S. Pora, etc. Various discourses on music and culture were also organised by SaMaPa during the concerts. Apart from various big names of Indian music that enthralled the city of temples with their music presentations, various musicians from the state along with young children also performed at the festival.
Maestro Abhay Rustum Sopori in his address said SaMaPa widens its horizons 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. He further added that it has been his aim to keep J&K a culturally vibrant State. He said that music gives a beautiful dimension to the personality of a person and appreciation of creative arts in itself builds a sensitivity which redefines the thinking and observation of a child. He asked every student to pledge that they will take Indian art and culture to newer heights with the best possible participation with responsibility and interest. He added that the rich music, performing arts and the culture was the identity of the country and one has to be deeply familiarised with it.
