Musical concert “SaMaPa Aalap Festival” today took off from Sopore in Baramulla district. The Musical festival organized by SaMaPa (Sopori Academy of Music and Performing Arts) is being held across Kashmir from 16th to 26th March and is being conducted in collaboration with Divisional/District Administration, Department of Information and Public Relations, Department of Tourism, J&K Academy and Arts, Culture and Languages, Radio Kashmir and Doordarshan Srinagar.The inaugural function was held Wednesday in the auditorium of Government Degree College Sopore witnessed by around 700 students and music lovers of Sopore.The Great Legendary Santooor Maestro and Music Composer Pandit Bhajan Sopori lightened the function with his presence and Santoor recital. District Development Commissioner, Yasha Mudgal, Principal Degree College Sopore, Director Doordarshan, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Joint Director Planning and district Officers and academicians attended the function. Music Maestro Abhay Rustum Sopori, Ghulam Nabi Bulbul, Munir Ahmad Mir, Mohammad Shafi Malik, Altaf Sahil, Sahfi Sopori and various renowned artists also participated during the function. A young talent Nazneen, a 12th standard student from Sopore was also introduced at the festival.
During the beginning of the function, Dr. Rafeeq Masoodi and Talha Jahangir highlighted the contribution of Pandit Bhajan Sopori in the field of Music. The speakers termed Pandit Bhajan Sopori as an Institution in himself. It was termed that the maestro has composed more than 10,000 songs across various languages and highlighted Kashmiri music and culture all over the world.The maestro Pandit Bhjan Sopori presented soul touching musical pieces during the concert and focused on Kashmiri Sufiana kalams of Mehmood Gami. He also informed the audience about the different aspects of musical compositions.
Other artists also presented soul touching songs and musical pieces based mainly on Kashmiri folk and Sufiana kalam notably the songs written by Reham Saab Sopori and Shamas Faqeer.Later the DDC felicitated Pandit Bhajan Sopori and Abhay Rustum Sopori with Shawls and mementos. The other artists were also felicitated with mementoes.Meanwhile, DDC, Yasha Mudgal termed Music as a medium to share inner thoughts and thanked Pandit Bhajan Sopori for organizing the mega event of Kashmir besides other artist for performing in the musical concert.Earlier, the audience was informed by Abhay Rustum Sopori about SaMaPa Aalap festival and SaMaPa's. More than 150 musicians will be participating in around 60 presentations at 16 different venues in this edition of SaMaPa Aalap festival being held at various districts of the valley.