Two-day music festival to celebrate classical music heritage of India to begin on August 23

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, AUGUST 21 (STC): A two-day music festival is being held in Srinagar on 23rd and 25th August 2025 to celebrate the classical music heritage of India.
The programme on 23rd August to be held at Delhi Public School, Srinagar will feature a vocal recital by well-known vocalist Dr. Ojest Pratap Singh and Flute recital by Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Pandit Chetan Joshi.
The programme on 25th August at Lalla Arifa Auditorium, Govt. College for Women, M.A. Road, Srinagar will feature vocal recital by well-known vocalist Vidushi Padmaja Chakraborty followed by a Santoor recital by maestro Pandit Abhay Rustum Sopori.
The accompanying artists include Ustad Rafiuddin Sabri & Ujith Udayakumar (Tabla), Rishi Shankar Upadhyay (Pakhawaj), Dr. Ashique Kumar (Harmonium), Ms. Sonali Roy Chowdhury & Dr. Waseem Rafiabadi (Vocal), Ms. Poushali Dutta, & Dr. Shabir Ahmad Mir (Tanpura and Sur Santoor). Well Known TV and Stage personality Ms. Sadhna Shrivastav will compere the programmes.
SaMaPa and Benu shall also felicitate some of the luminaries of Jammu and Kashmir during the festival including eminent singers like Waheed Jeelani, Munir Ahmad Mir and others for their immense contribution to Kashmiri music.
Notably, the classical music festival is being organized and presented for the youth in Kashmir by SaMaPa & Benu. The programme is being presented under “Benu Heritage” banner as a CSR project of Matrix Freight Systems Pvt. Ltd.
(Straight Talk Communications)

SaMaPa, the acclaimed Cultural and educational organization of India with a focus on Jammu and Kashmir, is a cultural movement, which has translated from a deep rooted vision of its Founding Chairman, the Great Saint Music Legend, the ‘Saint of Santoor’ & ‘King of Strings’, Pandit Bhajan Sopori ji, and Pt. Abhay Rustum Sopori, the present Khalifa of the ancient Santoor and Sopori tradition.

Benu, a non-profit organisation founded by Vidushi Padmaja Chakraborty, efforts to engage the younger generation with traditional Indian music fostering a deeper connection of young people with classical music. Benu has actively worked to preserve Indian classical music by reaching out to children and youth.