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Time of India
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
A global musical tribute to santoor legend Pt. Bhajan Sopori
Global musical tribute to Kashmir's iconic instrumentalist and Santoor legend Pt. Bhajan Sopori The second edition of World Santoor Day was organised by the Sopori Academy for Music and Performing Arts (SaMaPa) at the Chinmaya Mission Auditorium in the capital. The first ever 'World Santoor Day' was celebrated last year in 2024 by the artist and the creative arts fraternity and many prominent cultural organizations of the country together. Celebrated a day after the World Music Day, World Santoor Day marks the birth anniversary of the Saint – Musician, Santoor legend & composer, late Pandit Bhajan Sopori, who is revered as the 'Saint of Santoor' and the 'King of Strings'. The evening featured the performances of young and established artists, who mesmerised Delhiites. It commenced with on-screen international recitals by Guido Estrada from Argentina accompanied by Demian Acierno on tabla presenting Raga Nirmalkauns, Mi Xuanye from China accompanied by Zhuang Jing on Tabla presenting Raga Yaman, and Luis Eduardo Vega from Colombia, accompanied by Javier Alarcón Guzmán on Tabla presenting another dimension of Raga Yaman. It was followed by a santoor ensemble in Raga Charukeshi by Indian and international artists and disciples of Pt. Abhay Rustum Sopori, including Daniel Aakash Brunner from Germany, Suman Patra from Finland, and Indian performers Anoushka Majumdar, Poushali Dutta, and Nairanjana Radhika from Delhi, along with Dheeraj Vaishnav from Rajasthan. The artists were accompanied on jodi pakhawaj and tabla by Chanchal Singh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Seniors Are Getting 87¢ Generic Viagra This Month Health Alliance by Friday Plans Learn More Undo This was followed by solo santoor performance by Divyansh Srivastava from Delhi, an able disciple of Pt. Bhajan Sopori and Pt. Abhay Sopori, accompanied on Tabla by Anand Mishra and Chanchal Singh presenting Raga Megh. This was followed by Santoor duet recital by Vidushi Shruti Adhikari and her talented son Ninad Adhikari from Madhya Pradesh, accompanied by Pt. Durjay Bhaumik on tabla presenting Raga Madhukauns. The 2nd World Santoor Day culminated with yet another special solo recital by Pandit Abhay Rustum Sopori accompanied by Pt. Ram Kumar Mishra on Tabla. On the occasion, Prof. Aparna Sopori said, "World Santoor Day is more than a concert; it is a cultural movement. The initiative seeks to reposition the santoor, the 100-stringed Shatatantri Veena of Kashmir, as a symbol of India's spiritual, musical, and philosophical heritage. With historical significance that predates similar instruments across the world, the Santoor serves as a bridge between ancient Indian traditions and contemporary global music. " Speaking about the event, Santoor maestro and music composer, Pandit Abhay Rustum Sopori said, 'Today we celebrated the second World Santoor Day on the occasion of the 77th birth anniversary of the great Santoor legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori ji. Musicians from across the world have gathered to pay their musical tribute to this great Santoor maestro. More than a dozen Santoor players have performed in this year's event, with World Santoor Day sessions also being held in Argentina, Colombia, China, USA etc. and various parts of India like Odisha," he added.
New Indian Express
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
The 2nd edition of World Santoor Day celebrations to begin in Delhi, honouring late Pandit Bhajan Sopori
The day also marks the birth anniversary of Pandit Bhajan Sopori. His son, Abhay Rustum Sopori—general secretary of the Sopori Academy of Music and Performing Arts (SaMaPa)—explains that he felt a deep responsibility to dedicate this day to the broader cause of cultural upliftment: for the artists, their art, and the musical traditions they represent. 'Anybody who calls me always talks about Papa—his humanitarian work, his music, his love for people, and of course, his Santoor,' says Abhay. Today, the world celebrates World Music Day, or Fête de la Musique—a tribute to music and musicians everywhere, and their power to connect people across cultures, languages, and borders. Just a day after these global festivities, the soulful strains of the Kashmiri santoor will take centre stage as the 2nd edition of World Santoor Day is celebrated on June 22. An artist-led initiative, the day honours the legacy of santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori and seeks to spotlight the instrument's ancient origins and cultural significance. World Santoor Day was born from that spirit—a conscious decision to mark June 22 not with grief, but with celebration. 'Focusing on the Santoor, we decided to centre this day around my father,' says Abhay. 'He was a musician who devoted his entire life to music and the service of culture. So instead of sitting with a sense of loss, I wanted to celebrate his life—75 years of it—and over seven decades of contribution to music.' For Abhay, the day is both personal and deeply philosophical. 'My father and I shared a unique bond—not just as father and son, but as guru-shishya and co-creators. He taught me music, also how to build systems, festivals, and institutions. And most importantly, he taught me to give back,' he says. Beyond the personal, the day also seeks to reclaim the cultural legacy of Kashmir, placing the Santoor—also known as the Shatha Tantri Veena—on the global stage. 'Kashmir has always been a cradle of art and culture. Aesthetics is Kashmir's gift to the subcontinent, and the santoor is one of its most beautiful expressions,' he explains. 'Our family has carried this tradition for centuries. And when the instrument travels, it carries a piece of Kashmir's soul with it.' This year's celebration spans borders, with performances in Argentina, Colombia, China, and the USA, alongside sessions in Odisha and a full-scale concert in New Delhi, where the main event will take place. Through the Sopori family's SaMaPa (Sopori Academy of Music and Performing Arts), this ethos of giving back continues—by providing platforms to emerging artists, promoting cultural literacy, and supporting documentation efforts, including a forthcoming book next year based on Abhay's research into the instrument's antiquity and spiritual lineage. When asked what audiences should expect from the event, Abhay says, 'They should take back a sense of great pride—in Indian culture, in our musical heritage, and in the santoor itself. They should feel the essence of Kashmir, and the ethos that the santoor carries through centuries of tradition.' The celebration also serves to reclaim the Santoor's rightful space in Indian classical music. 'This day is about pride,' Abhay affirms. 'It's about taking home not just the sound of the Santoor, but the spirit of Kashmir, the depth of our traditions, and the joy of cultural unity through music.' The 2nd World Santoor Day celebrations will take place on Sunday, June 22, at Chinmaya Mission Auditorium, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, from 5:30 PM onwards
