[Reader-list] Kashmir Festival "Shuhul Taaph" Concludes in Delhi

[Kshmendra Kaul]

Kashmir Festival "Shuhul Taaph" Concludes in Delhi (on 27/12/09 ???)
Kashmir Observer 
 
New Delhi- A two day Kashmiri festival “Shuhul Taaph” concluded here with an exciting performance by the cultural troupe of the Jammu and Kashmir Cultural Academy. 

The hall was jam-packed last night at the Lal Ded Centre and emotional scenes were witnessed after people watched the performance of more than 40 artists. There were many moist eyes and emotional scenes were witnessed in the Hall as the troupe brought to the fore the glory of Kashmiri culture. 

The team led by the young and dynamic secretary of the Cultural Academy Zafar Iqbal Manhas received a standing ovation from the audience at the end of the presentation. Manhas announced that Academy will continue its efforts to showcase the rich and diverse culture of Kashmir across India. He urged the people to come forward and join cultural dialogue to bridge the gap among different communities in the wake of turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir state.

 Santoor Maestro Abahy Rustum Sopori and Noted Sufi Singer Dhananjay Kaul earned great applause from the audience during their performances in the two day event, organized by Kashmir Education, Culture and Science Society in South Delhi in close ollaboration with the Cultural Academy. The musical part of the festival was dedicated to legendry singer Ghulam Hasan Sofi, who passed away recently. 

Painting exhibition depicting the evolution of Kashmiri Schools of Paintings was another important highlight of the event .Art works of 20 painters from Kashmir including those of Veer Munshi, Mir Imtiyaz, Shabir Santosh and P N Kachru were part of this exhibition which was applauded by the large number people particularly art lovers and artists from other parts of the country. This section of the festival was dedicated to G R Santosh and Bansi Parimoo two prominent painters who passed away in the last 20 years. 

A mehfil-i Mushaira was also organised in which prominent poets including Fayaz Dilber, Vijay Saqi and Balkrishan Sanyasi participated. 

The first Autobiography in Kashmiri titled Shej Wath by celebrated poet and author Moti Lal Saqi was also released on the occasion. In his book Saqi deals at length on political upheavals in Kashmir apart from his personnel life in which he has witnessed an extreme poverty and deprivation.

Secretary Cultural Academy Zafar Iqbal and the Secretary Culture, GOI, Jawahir Scircar were the chief guests on the occasion who also released Academy's calendar. Speaking on the occasion Secretary Culture Mr. Scircar assured all help and support to the NGO's from his ministry for promoting Kashmiri Culture and literature. He said that are specific schemes with his ministry for the promotion culture and urged the Cultural Academy and other NGO'S including KECSS to come forward with the proposals in this regard. 

Three prominent personalities including S N Bhat Haleem Poet and broadcaster, Dr. Sushil Razdan noted neurologist and Dr R N K Bamzaie an expert scientist on genome were conferred with the prestigious KECSS Awards for their outstanding contribution to the respective fields. Secretary Bio Technology Dr. M K Bhan and secretary Cultural Academy Zafer Iqbal Manhas presented the awards amidst huge applause from the audience. The two day festival was not only an attraction for the Kashmir people alone but also many prominent personalities including three time Green Oscar Winner Mike Pandey, Noted Film Maker Muzaffar Ali and several ambassadors among others.
 
 
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