49th Maharana Kumbhai Music Festival started with a perfect opening ceremony today at Sukhadia Rang Manch Town Hall

The musical magic gripped the packed auditorium when santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori’s expert fingers started playing the strings of Santoor. Literally, the composition coming out from the instrument was directly touching the worldly soul purifying it with the elation and simplicity of music.

While performing Bhajan Sopori was conversing with audience trying to teach them some undisclosed tricks of playing santoor.That’s the magic of Santoor and the great musician Pandit Bhajan Sopori. On stage he was accompanied with his disciple Roshan Ali Khan and on table Rafiuddin Sabri were giving fusion.

Pandit Bhajan Sopori playing Santoor.

While addressing the audience, Bhajan Sopori said that he don’t remember when he last came to Udaipur but today he felt utmost happiness, more because there are so many youths to attend this classical music fest.

Bhajan Sopori was honored with M.N Mathur Award for his great contribution in Indian Classical Music.

Bhajan Sopori belongs to Kashmir and has a family history of great musicans and santoor player, he said that Santoor has more than 250 years old history and my forefathers were all renowned santoor players of their times.

If Santoor of Pandit Bhajan Sopori had rocked the Sukhadia Rang Manch then Flute of Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia made the attendees move melodiously with the “sur” and “taal“. The musical rays were all flowing freely all over the hall. It was an absolute day for the Classical Music Lovers.

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia playing Flute.

In an personal interview, Pandit Hariparasad Chaurasia said that Indian Classical Music is a treasure, it is same like our most valuable Indian customs and traditions which we are forgetting and adopting western culture, opposite to this people of west are coming in India and getting attracted to our customs. It’s a serious situation where we need to  save our youth from getting exploited and to preserve our cultural practices .

He added “Music is a complete treatment for a perfect body, mind and soul”.

Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia is a renowned Flute maestro and recipient of many awards including Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan. Born in Allahbad, his childhood was spent learning wrestling at Akhada, his father was a wrestler. He was least interested in learning wrestling and he started learning music without his father’s knowledge.