New Delhi, December 05, (Scoop News)- What a weekend it was for music connoisseurs as they saw three legendary musicians along with a number of young and established performing musicians on one stage at recently held 9th annual SaMaPa Sangeet Sammelan 2013 at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi. SaMaPa Sangeet Sammelan is the top most music festival of Delhi and is also acclaimed as one of the most prestegious festivals of the country. Organized by the music legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori’ music academy, the SaMaPa – Sopori Academy of Music and Performing Arts, the 3 day festival had enthralling performances by Pt. Birju Maharaj (Kathak), Pt. Anup Jalota (Devotional vocal), Abhay Rustum Sopori (Santoor), Ragini Rainu (Sufi Vocal), Gundecha Brothers (Dhrupad), Pt. Ronu Majumdar (Flute), Ustad Rafique Khan (Sitar), Vidushi Kala Ramnath (Violin), Salil Bhatt (Satvik Veena) and many others.
The festival commenced with the SaMaPa Saraswati Vandana presented by the students of Raghubir Singh Junior Model School and Salwan Public School, Gurgaon followed by tradition lamp lighting by the distinguished guests.
The musical saga commenced with presentation of Sufi Vocal by Ragini Rainu, who was also awarded with the SaMaPa Yuva Ratan Samman this year. Ragini started with Qualam of Baba Bulle Shah Ghoonghat Chak Hun Sajna.. followed by Zihaale Miski by Hazrat Amir Khusro and ended her performance with another Qualam of Baba Bulle Shah Raanjhana. After Ragini it was time for musical extravaganza with Maestro Abhay Rustum Sopori, who in his own style presented various aspects of what we call its own kind of music which enthralled everyone sitting in the auditorium. He presented Raga Champakali with Aalap – Jod, Gat in Vilambit Jhaptaal, Sufiana Tarana in Madhyalaya Ektaal, Bandish in Drutlaya Teentaal and Gat in Atidrut Teentaal. While audiences were still going through the strong instrumental musical magic of Abhay, the legendary Bhajan Samrat Pt. Anup Jalota set the entire auditorium on its toes with soulful bhajans one after another. His performance included the bhajans like; ‘Aisi Laagi Lagan…’, ‘Raam Naam Ki Dhun Hai…’, ‘Rang De Chunariya Shyam Piya…’, ‘Jag Mein Sundar Hai Do Naam…’ etc. His recital was a different experience for the listerers as he presented his Bhajans in a raga system and the classical listeners were taken into a trance by his recitations.
Second day saw the performances by Sh. Salil Bhatt on Satvik Veena, Dhrupad by Gundecha Bandhu and magical recital of Flute-Sitar jugalbandi by Pt. Ronu Majumdar and Ustad Rafique Khan. Salil Bhatt presented Raag Jogeshwari while Gundecha Bandhus presented Raag Bihag. The second evening concluded with Flute-Sitar Jugalbandi with Raag Baageshri.
The third and final day commenced with presentation of Swar-Laya-Samwaad, coordinated by Pt. Vijay Shankar Mishra this year the young artists Abhishek Mishra, Sachin Sharma and Zuheb Khan on Tabla and Rishi Shankar Upadhyay on Pakhawaj presented more than 25 different Parans which is absolutely rare to hear now. The entire auditorium was moved by the presentation. It was followed by Violin recital by one of the best Violinists of present time Vidushi Kala Ramnath who presented Raag Shudh Kalyan with presentation of bandish ‘Bolan Lagi’ in Vilambit, Madhya Laya in Teen Taal, a bandish in Drut Laya Ek Taal and a Tarana. The 3 day musical magic concluded with Legendary Pt. Birju Maharaj’s magical Kathak dance recital receiving standing ovation. The festival saw a jam packed auditorium on all the days of the festival with people also struggling to find place to sit even past 10:00 pm.
Pt. Birju Maharaj applauded the efforts of Pt. Bhajan Sopori, who expressed that SaMaPa has done a tremendous work to preserve the Indian Music. He also said “an artist is someone who give their life to keep this art alive and I’m very happy to see you all here stayed this long to enjoy the music, I wish the young generation come forward to adopt the art and take it further to keep it alive for generations to come”. Pt. Anup Jalota thanked SaMaPa for inviting him on such a prestigious platform to perform, he said “this is platform for Indian Classical Music but by providing me an opportunity to present on such a big stage like SaMaPa Sangeet Sammelan is a proud moment. I’m honoured by the gesture”. While addressing the audience, Salil Bhatt also thanked Pt. Bhajan Sopori, Abhay Sopori and SaMaPa. He said today is a time where everyone is busy with making their own destiny and life better, but Pt. Sopori ji is thinking about masses, about music and artists – which is not an easy task and to perform in such a festival with lovely audience is blessing for him. Pt. Bhajan Sopori insisted about participation of youth to preserve the music and performing arts. He said “all these young performers are future of the music and we are just trying to giving them a platform to showcase their skills, their talents so that the world can notice them and they take their art to places”.
The festival also featured a photo exhibition by Inni Singh & a Painting Exhibition by Delhi and J&K artists by the J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages. The festival was supported by TATA, IFFCO, Ozone Ayurvedics, ONGC, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India,
Many distinguished guests were present during the 3 day festival which included Pt. Bhajan Sopori, Prof. Aparna Sopori, Smt. Shameem Azad, H.E. Sh. Chandradath Singh, High Commissioner Trinidad & Tobago, Sh. Ghulam Nabi Ratanpuri, Hon’ble Member Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Sh. Bharat Wakhlu, Resident Director, Tata, Sh. Sanjay Sethi, VP Tata, Dr. Rafiq Masoodi, DDG Doordarshan, Sh. Sheo Narayan Singh Anived, renowned writer and artist and Commissioner Customs, Pt. Vijay Shankar Mishra, Eminent musicologist and others.
The concluding ceremony of the festival was another grand musical at the residence of the Ambassador of the Germany in New Delhi featuring the Award bestowal ceremony on His Excellency Michael Steiner by Dr. Farooq Abdullah & Pt. Bhajan Sopori. The evening saw musical performance by Manzoor Shah and Party coming from Srinagar specially for the occasion followed by Sufi music recital by Ragini Rainu. The evening was attended by the Who’s who of Delhi.
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