SaMaPa, Benu to hold two-day Classical Music festival in Srinagar on 23 and 25 Aug

Srinagar, Aug 21: SaMaPa, Sopori Academy of Music and Performing Arts, and Benu, a non-profit organization, have joined hands to hold “Benu Heritage”, a Music festival for the youth in Kashmir on 23rd and 25th August at Delhi Public School and Lalla Arifa Auditorium, Govt. College for Women in Srinagar.

The accompanying artists include Ustad Rafiuddin Sabri & Sh Ujith Udayakumar (Tabla); Sh. Rishi Shankar Upadhyay (Pakhawaj); Dr. Ashique Kumar (Harmonium); Ms. Sonali Roy Chowdhury & Dr. Waseem Rafiabadi (Vocal); Ms. Poushali Dutta & Dr. Shabir Ahmad Mir (Tanpura and Sur Santoor); and well-Known TV and stage personality Ms. Sadhna Shrivastav will compere the programmes.

According to press release issued to the Greater Kashmir, “Benu and SaMaPa to present “Benu Heritage” as a CSR project of Matrix Freight Systems Pvt. Ltd. Celebrating the Classical music heritage of India. The 2-day festival is being held in Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) on 23^rd and 25^th August 2025 DPS Srinagar and Govt. College for Women, M.A. Road.

On the first day, 23^rd August, the programme will feature a vocal recital by well-known vocalist Dr. Ojest Pratap Singh and Flute recital by Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Pandit Chetan Joshi.

On 25^th August, The programme at Lalla Arifa Auditorium, Govt. College for Women, M.A. Road, Srinagar will feature vocal recital by well-known vocalist Vidushi Padmaja Chakraborty followed by a Santoor recital by maestro Pandit Abhay Rustum Sopori.

SaMaPa and Benu shall also felicitate some of the luminaries of Jammu and Kashmir during the festival including eminent singers like Sh. Waheed Jeelani, Sh. Munir Ahmad Mir and others for their immense contribution to Kashmiri music.

SaMaPa, the acclaimed Cultural and educational organization of India with a focus on Jammu and Kashmir, is a cultural movement, which has translated from a deep rooted vision of its Founding Chairman, the Great Saint Music Legend, the ‘Saint of Santoor’ & ‘King of Strings’, Pandit Bhajan Sopori ji, and Pt. Abhay Rustum Sopori, the present Khalifa of the ancient Santoor and Sopori tradition.

Benu, a non-profit organisation founded by Vidushi Padmaja Chakraborty, efforts to engage the younger generation with traditional Indian music fostering a deeper connection of young people with classical music. Benu has actively worked to preserve Indian classical music by reaching out to children and youth.