Sufiyana musical event organised at Tulip Garden
Kashmir is famous for its rich cultural heritage; one being the Sufi culture. To keep the legacy going, Kashmir society in collaboration with the department of floriculture organized a Sufiyana Mehfil, a daylong sufiyana musical event, to attract locals and tourists at Tulip Garden.
Performances by experienced Sufiyana singers, who belong torenowned sufiyana families from Kashmir, were the major attraction of theevent.
“After a long time, we organized a sufi music show with apurpose to increase tourism. It was a mesmerising experience to perform atTulip Garden and touch the hearts of visitors through classical music,” saidMushtaq Saznawaz, a Sufi maestro.
“Initiatives like Sufiyana Mehfil are aimed at bringing backtourism and reviving the historical Sufiyana music. I would like to thankKashmir for organising this melodious Sufi music at this beautiful garden. Iurge more and more people to visit Kashmir and enjoy its beauty, culture, andmusic,” said Anil Tiwari, a tourist.
Drops of Nectar traces history of Sikhism in Kashmir, NWFP
A book entitled ‘Drops of Nectar’ authored by Dr Netar Singh was released by well known Sikh religious figure Manjit Singh at Shiromani Dera Nangali Sahib in Jammu.
According to the organisers, it is for the first time thatan attempt has been made by any writer to highlight the sincere efforts put inby as many as seven such `Deras’ to carry forward the mission of the `KhalsaPanth’ in the most difficult mountainous terrain in NWFP, including Poonch and Kashmirin the erstwhile J&K State.
“Although after 1947 many of such `Deras’ have gone to theother side of Pakistan, yet the sweet memories of the lost `Deras’ are stillcherished the most by the people of their respective areas,” the organiserssaid.
Manjit Singh congratulated the author on this endeavour andwished him a healthy and prosperous life.
World Heritage Day passes without any major function in Kashmir
Even as world heritage day passed without any major functionin Kashmir, in Jammu Advisor to the Governor, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, visited theDogra Art Museum and emphasised upon the need to preserve the treasure-trove ofrare manuscripts and valuable artefacts as well raise public awareness aboutthe rich cultural heritage of the State.
April 18 is celebrated World Heritage Day all over the globeto promote the cultural heritage across the world. The theme of this year isRural Landscapes.
There are 37 United Nations Educational, Scientific andCultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites located in India,which include 29 cultural sites, sevennatural sites and one mixed site. None of the sites is in Jammu and Kashmir.However some four sites in Jammu and Kashmir figure in tentative list of heritagesites
Apart from the 37 sites inscribed on the World HeritageList, there is a list of tentative sites for recognition which has beensubmitted to the UNESCO Committee for evaluation and acceptance.
Six Mughal Gardens in Jammu and Kashmir comprising of Chashma Shahi, Shalimar Bagh, Pari Mahal, Verinag Garden, Achabal Gardens and Nishat Bagh have been put in tentative list in 2010.
Similarly Neolithic Settlement of Burzahom of from 3000 BC to 1000 BC, which is known for its prehistoric occupational culture of the Neolithic era, Megalithic era and the early Modern Period, also found its way in tentative list in 2014.
Cold Desert Cultural Landscape of Ladakh over an altitude of 3,000 m (9,800 ft) also was included in 2015. The state also shares Silk Route sites with Bihar, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, which are collectively included in the list too.
According to the listing, this is part of the extensive interconnected network of trade routes across the Asian continent connecting East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean world, as well as North and Northeast Africa and Europe.
Interactive meeting with Kashmiri writer M L Pandita held
Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi organized Katha Sandhi Programme at K L Saigal Hall Jammu on Thursday. The programme was held in collaboration with JKAACL. Prof. R.L. Shant, M.L.Pandita and Dr. Aziz Hajini were also present.
Noted Kashmiri litterateur, M L Pandita was hosted by theorganisers under the programme series which was aimed at affording avenues of interactionto the youngsters with the litterateur.
During the interaction Pandita shared his life experienceswith his contemporaries besides the younger generation. He also read out someof his best short stories before the gathering which was followed by aquestion-answer session.
Earlier while delivering his welcome speech Dr. Aziz Hajini,Convener, Kashmiri Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi New Delhi highlighted theinitiatives of the Sahitya Akademi being undertaken by it for promotion anddevelopment of languages like Kashmiri.
Among others several noted personalities includingS.L.Tickoo, Pyare Hatash, Jaganath Sagar, Prof. R.L. Shant, Aseer Kishtwari,Bashir Bhaderwahi, Prem Nath Shad, Mohan Singh, P.N.Trisal and Tej Sagar werepresent.
The proceeding of the programme were conducted by Dr. SudhirMahajan while vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Shahnawaz.
Sikh youth releases song ‘Panun Kashmir’ in Pulwama
A Sikh youth from south Kashmir’s Tral area released his first Kashmiri song titled ‘Panun Kashmir’ at Deputy Commissioner’s (DC’s) Office Pulwama on Monday.
Dr Gurdeep Singh, alias Deep Singer, from Tral hamlet ofBaygund along with his band released the song on the Sikh festival of Baisakhi.Panun Kashmir is a song that centers around tourism, beauty and peace ofvalley.
Singh while tracing the history of the song said that he hadcomposed the song ‘Panun Kashmir’ few years back and he got the idea ofreleasing it after it was liked by his friends who requested him to compose it.