Blissful Santoor by Abhay Sopori on Day 11 of SaMaPa Aalap 2012

GNS JAMMU :The ongoing 7^th Annual ‘SaMaPa Aalap’ 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, featured blissful Santoor recital by Santoor Maestro & Music Composer Abhay Rustum Sopori on the 11^th day of the festival. The concert was organized at the Ved Mandir, Amphalla, Jammu specially for the children of Bal and Balika Niketan. The concert was attended by eminent musicologist and senior music critic of the country, and Vice President SaMaPa Pt. Pandit Vijay Shankar Mishra, Sufi maestro Ragini Rainu, Vocalist Vidushi Uma Garg and various members of the Ved Mandir like Vice President Capt. Purshoptam Sharma, Secretary K. K. Mengi, Jt. Secretary Dr. Kuldeep Raj Gupta, Treasurer Bal Krishan Gupta, and many others including Retd. DIG Ramesh Kaul Ashok K. Kaul and famous Pediatric Dentist Dr. Bhavna Kaul.

Abhay Sopori presented Raga Basant Mukhari commencing his recital with Aalap in which he made the students sing various phrases and patterns of development of a raga. He continued with a Bandish in Teentaal “Oothat Jiya Hook Sunat Koyal Kook” and his family Bandish “Parvar Digar Tu” in Ektaal. The students sang the composition also while Abhay explained the development of expressions. He concluded the recital with a Drut Gat in Teentaal with superfast Jhalla.  Sarit Das on Tabla provided beautiful accompaniment. Abhay asked the young students to move ahead with courage in life following the path of truth. He asked them to balance the academics with physical and mental growth in which music plays a vital role. He said success is not just about personal achievements but incorporates contribution too and as such it’s the duty of every individual to take the best from the society and then contribute back. He asked the young students to be the leaders of the coming years so that Ved Mandir, J&K State and the country can be proud of them. He praised the efforts of Ved Mandir Committee for its social welfare activities especially running the Bal Niketan and Balika Niketan, which has more than 125 children. He congratulated the management for providing all possible care that a child can get from his parents with love, understanding and discipline. Abhay asked the people to contribute to such organizations which work with such devotion and dedication in providing better citizens of the country.

Pandit Vijay Shankar Mishra spoke on the occasion explain the students the subtle impact of music on a person and asked the students to take up music as their main activity and always listen to music which develops concentration also. He said entire human body is in a specific rhythm and music flows inside too. Capt. Purshoptam Sharma coordinated the proceeding of the programme and thanked Abhay Sopori for such first ever presentation by an artist of international repute and bringing SaMaPa Aalap Festival to Ved Mandir and acquainting the young students with their rich cultural heritage.

On 8^th February, SaMaPa Aalap will feature Classical vocal recital by Uma Garg at Jodhamal Public School at 11:00 am. The festival will also feature a special recital by Music Legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori on 9^th February at the Central Jail, Kotbhalwal, Jammu.