Kashmiri Sufi fest kicks off today

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 14

The two-day ‘Kashmir Sufi festival’ that will showcase the performances of popular artistes and discuss ways to preserve Valley’s traditional music is all set to start here on Thursday.

Organised by the Kashmir Music Club (KMC) and the J&K Academy of Art Culture and Languages (JKAACL), festival titled ‘Shashrang’ will also have an award ceremony to honour veteran artistes.

“We are holding this festival mainly to preserve our Kashmiri music. While there will be performances from a galaxy of singers, we will also hold a conference to discuss ways to promote our music. We will pass a resolution in this regard,” Waheed Jeelani, KMC chairman and a well-known singer, told The Tribune.

He said the festival would encourage budding artistes to popularise the Kashmiri Sufi music. “It festival will provide a platform to budding artistes. It is good to know that younger singers are showing interest in the Kashmiri Sufi music,” said Jeelani.

He said an award ceremony would also be held during the festival. Veteran ‘chakri’ maestro Mohammad Abdullah Taarbali, Abdul Gaffar Kanihami and Adil Manzoor Shah will be awarded for their contribution to the Kashmiri folk music – ‘chakri’.

Rahmatullah Khan, Dhananjay Koul and Altaf Sahi will be awarded for their contribution to Kashmiri ghazal.

The festival will be inaugurated by Ustad Abdul Rasheed Hafiz at Tagore Hall.