Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 22: The city of Pune witnessed a vibrant confluence of Kashmiri and Maharashtrian art and culture during the 13th edition of the Azmat-e-Kashmir festival.
Organized by Sarhad Pune, in collaboration with the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited, the Festival captivated thousands of attendees with over three hours of traditional music, dance and cultural expressions from both regions.
The event featured an array of cultural highlights, with Shamima Akhtar, renowned for her devotional music in Kashmiri and Marathi, delivering a standout performance. She was joined by artists from the Alamdar Bhagat Theatre in Anantnag, including Mazhar Siddiqui and Rohit Thakur, who enchanted the audience with Kashmiri folk songs and dances.
The evening opened with a stirring rendition of “Sare Jahan Se Achha” by Kashmiri artists playing traditional instruments such as the shehnai and dholak. Students from Sarhad School in Pune performed traditional Maharashtrian songs, while a mesmerizing jugalbandi of Kashmiri and Maharashtrian music and dance became the highlight of the evening. The festival also showcased Kashmiri folk theatre and performances featuring traditional instruments like the santoor, rabab, and tumri.
The event commenced with an inaugural ceremony attended by Dr Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, Managing Director of the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited and Sanjay Nahar, founder-president of Sarhad Pune.
Several individuals were honoured on the occasion for making notable contributions to the development of Kashmir. They include Mohammad Shafi Qureshi (Spring Bud Education Trust) for his work in education, Adil Malik (Sopore Apple Farmer’s Producer Company) for supporting apple farmers and Sirajuddin Khan (coordinator, Aragam Book and Poetry Village project) for his vision of making Aragam the world’s largest book village.
The Festival concluded with a spectacular performance by a Kashmiri Bhand troupe. Their dazzling display of traditional songs and energetic dances, accompanied by vibrant costumes, particularly the shimmering ghagra, left the audience in awe.
The Azmat-e-Kashmir festival successfully celebrated the cultural fusion of Kashmir and Maharashtra, offering attendees an enriching experience and leaving them with memories of an unforgettable evening.
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