'Efforts on to revive declining cultural activities in J&K'

Jammu and Kashmir government is trying to revive the declining cultural activities in the state and would involve youth to promote talent, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Ashgar Samoon said here today.
"Since the last few years, we are trying to revive cultural activities as they had declined over the years especially after the 2014 floods," Samoon said.
He was speaking about the recently concluded SaMaPa Aalap festival organised by renowned Santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori's Sopori Music and Performing Arts (SaMaPa) academy.
Samoon said that the government was hopeful of taking such activities forward with the cooperation of various artists of the state.

"We peacefully concluded this festival. We are hopeful of taking such activities forward. The idea is to involve youth of the state and promote talent," the Divisional Commissioner said.
Terming the festival a path-breaking event, Sopori's son Abhay Rustum Sopori said that it is a tribute to musician and his late grandfather Pandit Shamboo Nath Sopori who had contributed immensely to preserving the culture of the state.

"It has been a path-breaking event in our desire to create a cultural hub here. This festival is also a tribute to my grandfather (musician Pandit Shamboo Nath Sopori) who passed away recently, as he has done a lot for the preservation of the culture of the state," Abhay said.

The festival was organised at 16 venues across the valley and over 300 artists and musicians, including some from outside the state had participated in it, he said.
"As many as 87 concerts/presentations were performed at 16 venues with a maximum of 11 being held at Kashmir University where the programme went on for over five hours," he added.
A nine-point agenda will be presented to the government for the benefit of artists and to help in the promotion of state's rich cultural heritage, Abhay said, adding, over 150 young artists were introduced throughout the festival.