Continuing the musical ‘Ramzan festivities’ in the capital Srinagar, a ‘Qawwali Competition and Classical Naatiya Poetry’ program was organized by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre here today.Minister for Public Works and Culture, Naeem Akhtar was the chief guest of the program that was attended by prominent singers from Kashmir who lent voice to the poetry of renowned poets from the state. The program was organized in collaboration with Directorates of School Education and Tourism.Today’s program was kickstarted with a solo rendition by Muneer Ahmad Mir of the verses of the Sufi saint and poet, Sheikh-ul-Alam Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA) which evoked thunderous applauses from the jam-packed auditorium at SKICC.Other singers who performed during the event included Abdul Rashid Hafiz, Waheed Jeelani, Dr Shaista Ahmad, Aijaz Rah, Mohammad Shafi Malik, ZahidaTaranum, Raja Bilal, ShaheenMumtaz, Kifayat Faheem, Parveen Azad, Aijaz Khan, Mohsin Dilshad among others.
The singers lent voice to the poetry of Sheikh-ul-Alam Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA), Samad Mir, SanaullahMiskeen, Habibullah Nowshehri, Abdul Ahad Nazim, Ghulam Hassan Gamgeen and others. Their soulful renditions left many in the audience, including the Public Works and Culture Minister, Naeem Akhtar, in tears.Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, JKAACL, Aziz Hajni said the series of musical programs are aimed at reviving the traditional Kashmiri culture of celebrating Ramazan with musical tribute to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).“Though we have organized such programs in past as well but the fresh concepts introduced by the Culture Minister have infused a fresh breath of life into these events aimed at celebrating our rich and plural past,” Hajni said.MLA Tangmarg, Mohammad Abbas Wani, MLA, Kangan, Mian Altaf, Director Information, Muneer-ul-Islam, senior INTACH member, Saleem Beg, former Director Information, Mohammad Sayeed Malik, prominent citizens and officers of the state government also attended the event.