Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 10: SaMaPa Aalap Festival presented by Sopori Academy of Music And Performing Arts (SaMaPa) commenced today. The festival is being presented by SaMaPa in collaboration with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, J&K Police and Department of Tourism.
The Grammy nominee flutist Ronu Majumdar inaugurated the 9th Annual SaMaPa Aalap Festival with a grand start followed by Ghazal recital by Ustad Naeem Ali Thirikwa.
The first session of the fortnight long festival was inaugurated by the chief guest Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Minister for Tourism. Soujanya Sharma, Director Tourism was the guest of honour. The ceremony was presided over by Sohail Kazmi, secretary general, Press Club, Jammu, whereas Santoor maestro and music composer Abhay Rustum Sopori, Secretary SaMaPa, Dogri singer Krishna Kumari, singer Prof Kailash Mehra Sadhu, artist KK Gandhi, Shujaat Khan, HoD MAM College, TR Sharma, Retd KAS, Ramesh Singh, Ravindra Kaul, Dr Bhavna Koul, eminent music critics and musicologists like Vijay Shankar Mishra, Ravindra Misra and Vidushi Manjari Sinha also attended the concert.
GA Mir said that SaMaPa has done tremendous work to revive the cultural scenario and reaching out to deep corners of the State taking culture and music to new scale which will go a long way towards creating a cultural revolution in the State.
The concert began with magical flute recital by Pt Ronu Majumdar, one of the leading Bansuri exponents of the country. He presented Raga Vridavani Sarang with Aalap-Jod, Gat in Jhaptaal and Teentaal concluding with a composition called “In love with Kashmir” and Raga Pahadi. He was accompanied by Durjay Bhaumik on Tabla and Hari Mohan on Bansuri. His performance displayed a beautiful combination of Gayaki and Tantrakari Angs while maintaining the purity of the raga and generating a tone that sounds meditative. This was followed by Ghazal recital by Ustad Naeem Ali, one of the most eminent Ghazal singers of the country. He was accompanied by Rafi Khan on Harmonium and Abhishek Mishra on Tabla. Ustad Naeem Ali’s heart touching expressions moved the music listeners.
Abhay Sopori highlighted SaMaPa’s initiatives and activities in the State. He also presented vote of thanks.
Follow our WhatsApp channel