The 20th edition of the SaMaPa Sangeet Sammelan will take place from November 22 to November 24, at Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi. This annual event, organised by the Sopori Academy of Music and Performing Arts (SaMaPa), was founded by the late Pandit Bhajan Sopori and celebrates his legacy as a maestro and cultural pioneer.
The festival will begin on Friday, November 22, with a performance by Samit Mallick, presenting Haveli Sangeet, Dhrupad, and Dhamar, accompanied by Rishi Shankar Upadhyay on the Pakhawaj. This will be followed by a vocal recital by Sandip Bhattacharjee, supported by Ujith Uday on Tabla and Vinay Mishra on Harmonium. The evening will also feature an enchanting Kathak performance by Vidushi Saswati Sen. The prestigious SaMaPa Awards 2024 will also be presented on the first day.
On Saturday, November 23, audiences will be treated to a Sitar and Sarod duet by the Mohan Brothers, Lakshay Mohan and Aayush Mohan, accompanied by Pandit Ram Kumar Mishra on Tabla. Pandit Harish Tiwari will then perform a vocal recital, supported by Mithilesh Jha on Tabla and Pandit Dharamnath Mishra on Harmonium. The evening will conclude with a flute performance by Pandit Nityanand Haldipur, with Sagar Gujrati on Tabla.
The event will conclude on Sunday, November 24, with a vocal performance by Avinash Kumar, accompanied by Pandit Durjay Bhaumik on Tabla and Lalit Sisodia on Harmonium. This will be followed by a Santoor recital by Pandit Abhay Rustum Sopori, with Ustad Akram Khan on Tabla. The final act of the evening will be a Tabla solo by Pandit Sanju Sahai, accompanied by Pandit Dharamnath Mishra on Harmonium.
Throughout the festival, attendees can also enjoy a special Painting exhibition featuring works by artists from Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi.
The festival will present the SaMaPa Awards 2024, honouring outstanding contributions to Indian classical music and the arts. Among the recipients are Shashi Vyas, who will receive the Pandit Samsar Chand Sopori Award, and Pandit Nityanand Haldipur, who will be conferred with the SaMaPa Vitasta Award. Bashir Aarif will be honoured with the SaMaPa Nund Rishi Samman, and Alok Paradkar will receive the SaMaPa Acharya Abhinavgupt Samman. Pandit Harish Tiwari will be awarded the SaMaPa Sangeet Tejasvi Samman, while Lakshay Mohan and Aayush Mohan will receive the SaMaPa Yuva Ratan Samman. Kamalini Nagarajan Dutt will be recognised with the SaMaPa Award of Excellence.
The festival will begin at 6 PM each day, and entry is free for all on a first-come, first-serve basis. It is supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Culture, Government of India, as well as IFFCO. The SaMaPa Sangeet Sammelan remains a significant platform for celebrating Indian classical music and the cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir.
When: November 22 to 24; 06.00 PM onwards
Where: Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi
