Abhay Sopori urges govt to formulate cultural policy

Tribune News Service

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Srinagar, March 28

After holding a successful 10-day-long music festival, the Sopori Music and Performing Arts (SaMaPa) group today said it would conduct more such events in the Kashmir valley.

“We received an overwhelming response and held 87 concerts across the Valley. Around 150 musicians participated in the 10-day-long SaMaPa music festival,” composer Abhay Rustum Sopori told reporters here today.

Sopori said more musicians were expected to perform in the next SaMaPa fest. He also said the group would hold a major concert in September or October.

The SaMaPa music festival, which concluded on Saturday, aimed at taking music to the masses and identifying local talent.

Sopori, meanwhile, urged the government to formulate a cultural policy so that the local talent was promoted.

He said the policy should ensure that artistes do not face financial difficulties and the rich musical heritage of Kashmir was promoted.

“We have to come up with a cultural policy so that other states follow us,” Sopori added.

He said the music festival besides promoting young talent concentrated on the “Sufi thought”.

Sopori also thanked the state government for providing active support to the SaMaPa festival.

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Hassan Samoon said the government would provide every possible support to encourage music and cultural activities.

He said programmes like SaMaPa will also help the younger generation to be acquainted with the local traditional music.

The festival was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and J&K Academy of Arts, Culture and Languages.

Santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori too was present at the SaMaPa festival after it was inaugurated on March 16. However, he left for New Delhi on March 23 after the passing away of his father Pandit Shamboo Nath Sopori.