Jammu, February 08 (Scoop News) – The 12th Day of the ongoing 7th Annual ‘SaMaPa Aalap Festival’ presented by Sopori Academy of Music And Performing Arts (SaMaPa) in collaboration with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and Deptt. of Tourism, J&K saw Jodhamal Public School enjoying every bit of the enchanting vocal recital by Vidushi Uma Garg. The function was graced by Shri Nasir Aslam Wani, Hon’ble Minister of State for Home, Tourism, Revenue & Relief, Housing & Urban Development, and PHE, Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir, as the Chief Guest of the occasion. The function was also attended by Santoor Maestro & Music Composer Abhay Rustum Sopori, eminent musicologist and senior music critic of the country, and Vice President SaMaPa – Pt. Pandit Vijay Shankar Mishra, and Trustees of Jodhamal School – Smt. Susham Kuthiala, Vikrant Kuthiala, Nandan and Arti Kuthiala, amongst others including a large number of students and staff of the school, and music lovers.
Programme began with the traditional lamp lighting ceremony by Shri Nasir Aslam Wani, Abhay Sopori, Pandit Vijay Shankar Mishra, Vikrant Kuthiala and Pricipal Krishna Bhati. The Principal and Management of the School presented bouquets to the Chief Guest and the performing musicians. Principal Bhati in her welcome address expressed her gratitude to the Chief Guest Sh. Nasir Aslam Wani for gracing the occasion with his esteemed presence and welcomed Abhay Sopori and the performing musicians. She said SaMaPa Aalap Festival in its 7th addition at the School has created a new wave in the field of culture and thanked SaMaPa and Abhay Sopori for enlightening the students with the rich cultural heritage of the country.
Sh. Nasir Aslam Wani congratulated SaMaPa and Music Legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori for the efforts in reviving the cultural heritage of the State and taking it to the masses. He said that he is hopeful that SaMaPa Aalap 2012 is as successful as the past editions of the festival like SaMaPa Aalap 2011 and earlier. He said music is very close and dear to us and everyone tries to sing whenever and wherever possible. He said that Jodhamal School has provided a great platform to the students widening their vision. He congratulated Abhay Sopori appreciating his path breaking work in this direction in encouraging the young students to take up music and other performing arts.
Abhay Rustum Sopori spoke about the importance of music and how it is a national priority. He said music played a vital role in the independence also and even Mahatma Gandhi, whom he considers as one of the greatest National strategists, united the people through music before achieving independence with mass participation. He said the musical seeds have been sowed through SaMaPa Aalap Festival and these young children who are witnessing the festival for years now will keep the tradition alive in the years to come. He urged the students to be good music connoisseurs as music and culture are their biggest assets and everyone need to imbibe in him a sense of deep belonging.
Smt. Uma Garg, an eminent classical vocalist of Kirana Gharana and disciple of Late Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, presented various compositions in Raga Nat Bhairav, Raga Shudh Sarang and Raga Jogiya. She explained the students the nuances of singing and made the students and the music lovers sing with her various phrases and compositions. She was ably accompanied by Sarit Das on Tabla, Abid Hussain on Sarangi and Ustad Sajjad Ahmed on Harmonium.