Thrilling concerts by SaMaPa at Katra Mix of emotions and ecstasy at SaMaPa Aalap 2013

GNS JAMMU FEB,05 :The ongoing SaMaPa Aalap Festival 2013 witnessed a mix of emotions and musical ecstasy. While the concerts at Katra created sheer magic through the music presentations taking the audience into a state of ecstasy, the concert at the Home for Aged and Infirm left the performers in tears along with many elders staying at the centre, The 8^th edition of the prestigious classical, Sufi and folk music festival is being presented by SaMaPa in collaboration with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, J&K Police and Department of Tourism, Jammu.

The concert at the Home for the Aged and Infirm, Amphalla is among the special presentation being conducted by SaMaPa as part of its ‘Social Cultural Responsibility Initiative’ programme. The concert featured a vocal recital by Dr. Ojesh Pratap Singh who presented Raga Multani and few Bhajans. He was ably accompanied by Pt. Mithilesh Jha on the Tabla, Sh. Damodar Lal Ghose on the Harmonium and Sh. Abid Hussain on the Sarangi. Pandit Vijay Shankar Mishra, senior musicologist and music critic, and Vice President of SaMaPa, spoke on the occasion. He said SaMaPa members and musicians have come to take blessings from all the elders at the centre. Dr. Ojesh’s vocal recital left a heart piercing impact on everyone creating a very emotional moment for everyone. Later, Abhay Rustum Sopori, Santoor Maestro & Music Composer, and secretary SaMaPa, expressed his grief and shock on how the elderly parents could be left by their children in such an emotional plight. He said there can be differences in the families but this should not be the conclusion of such differences. This has been one of the path breaking steps by SaMaPa. Pt. Mishra said the festival will continue to have such sessions as part if the festival proving musical balm and healing touch where ever possible. 

In another sessions at the at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Spiritual Growth Centre, Katra on the 5^th Day of the SaMaPa Aalap 2013, the music presentations combining classical instrumental, Sufi and Kashmiri folk music came as a real treat to the listeners. Shri Jugal Kishore, Hon’ble MLC, J&K was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Other dignitaries who graced the festival included Shri S.M. Sahni, Director SGC, Katra, Shri S. Sharma, CEO , Katra Development Authority, Shri Rakesh Wazir, Vice President, Hotel and Restaurant Association, Katra, Shri Bodhraj, Asst. CEO SMVDSB, former Corporators of Katra Municipal Committee besides various prominent citizens of Katra, school children, representatives of Hotel & Hospitality Industry, Staff members and families of SMVDSB and a number of Yatris. The concert started with the traditional Lamp lighting ceremony. Shri Jugal Kishore presented Mata Chunnis to the performing musicians and guests seeking Shri Mata Vaishno Devi’s blessings. Sh. Jugal Kishore in his address said that 8 years back when SaMaPa presented its first festival in the Kashmir Valley, it was for the first time after 1990 when a cultural function was held. He acclaimed SaMaPa’s work saying that Pandit Bhajan Sopori and Abhay Rustum Sopori have created and revived cultural activities amongst gun fires and the State culture owes its revival to SaMaPa. He congratulated SMVDSB, Dept. of Tourism Jammu and J&K Police for supporting SaMaPa in this cause. The festival programme began with the spellbinding Sitar recital by Prof. Anupam Mahajan, a renowned musician and Dean of Music Faculty, University of Delhi. Prof. Mahajan’s playing demonstrated purity of the Raga Shastra. She presented Aalap –Jod, followed by Gats in Madhlaya Jhaptaal and Drut Teentaal. Pt. Mithilesh Jha on Tabla gave a splendid accompaniment. This was followed by a soulful rendition of Kashmiri Folk music by the well known musician Sh. Gulzar Ganai and his musicians who presented 3 Leelas and Bhajans in praise of Mata Vaishno Devi, Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati. He was joined by Sh. Abdul Rashid Shah on Matka, Sh. Shabir Ahmed on Sarangi, Sh. Modh. Maqbool Shah on Rabab and Sh. Wasim Akram on Tumbak. The festival concluded with enchanting Sufi renditions by the young Sufi Songstress, Ms. Ragini Rainu., one of the best Sufi singers of the present generation in the country. She presented Baba Bulle Shah’s “Ke Karda”, Meera Bhajan and “Ranjha” composed by Pt. Bhajan Sopori. At the request of the audience she concluded the recital with Mata Ke Bhaintey sending the audience into trance. Ragini made the audience sing with her making it a memorable experience for the listeners. She was brilliantly accompanied by Sh. Sachin Sharma on the Tabla, Sh. Damodar Lal Ghose on the Harmonium, Sh. Abid Hussain on the Sarangi and Kamal Sharma on Naal.  Ragini, who represents the Sufiana Gharana of Kashmir, demonstrated a strong base of classical gayaki embedded with fluency, aesthetics and expressions. Her exuberance and inimitable voice brought to life the ecstatic expression of Sufism, each rendition drowning the audience in the richness of this tradition and sending it into raptures. Abhay Rustum Sopori spoke on the occasion and highlighted the vision of SaMaPa in preserving and propagating the rich cultural heritage of the country. He said SaMaPa is a cultural movement translating from the deep rooted vision of the Chairman, the Great Music Legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori ji, and the tireless efforts of the members of Board in creating a unique, unbiased and empowering national level platform for presentation, propagation, and teaching of traditional music and performing arts for the artists and the young talents. Abhay also thanked the festival supporters and the media for its incredible support to him and SaMaPa.

The festival, on 6^th February, will feature Sitar recital by Dr. Mahajan at the Govt. College for Women, Parade at 10:00 am and vocal recital by Pt. Bhola Nath Mishra at the Residential School for Blind, Roop Nagar at 5:00 pm.