J&K set to host 10th edition of SaMaPa music fest

Spread over 35 locations across the scenic state and 75 concert performances, music cutting across genres is set to resonate Jammu and Kashmir as the 10th edition of the 'SaMaPa Aalap Festival' goes underway on February 16.
The festival, being organised by Sopori Academcy of Music and Performing Arts (SaMaPa) under the aegis of Santoor exponent Bhajan Sopori, will feature more than 100 musicians presenting classical, sufi, ghazal, folk music and 'sufiana mausiqi' of Kashmir.
The music festival will be held in two parts. Qalams of various sufi saints and Kashmiri writers will be rendered by young singers from the valley in the latter half, till March.

"SaMaPa has made special efforts in shaping the talent of the youth and not letting it go waste, and creating avenue for them so that they can have a choice to make music also as their career further contributing to the culture of the state," Sopori, a Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Akademi award recipient, said.
His son Abhay Sopori, a young santoor virtuoso himself, said the youth-oriented festival, over the last decade, has been a medium for the local and upcoming musicians to share a platform with eminent musicians of national and international level.
"It is expected to be witnessed by over 50,000 people and will be open to music lovers of Jammu and Kashmir. It will be one of the biggest musical extravaganzas that the state will play host to," Abhay said.