KL Report
Srinagar
Legendary singer, Raj Begum, Wednesday inaugurated the 3-day music festival organized by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.
As the melody queen entered the jam-packed auditorium of SP College, the 108 year old educational institute, the audience gave a standing ovation to her.
The audience felt ecstatic when the 86-year old legendary artist inaugurated the festival by singing her old numbers “Arbi Teathis Madni Laalas and “rang tchati na myaani jaweani”. She appreciated the Academy for organizing the festival and said that such events promote our rich music traditions.
In his inaugural address, Secretary Academy, Khalid Bashir Ahmad said that there could not have been a better person than Raj Begum to inaugurate the festival whose melodious voice has mesmerized several generations of Kashmir. He said that her presence has lifted the festival very high. He presented a shawl to the versatile singer and thanked her for acceding to his request to inaugurate the festival.
The festival will have light, folk and Sufiana music performances by prominent singers of the state.
On the inaugural day today, light music singers, Waheed Jeelani, Qaisar Nizami, Qazi Rafi, Rehmatullah Khan, Deepali Watal, Rashid Jegangir, Shaista Ahmad and Shazia Bashir, sang some of the most popular Kashmiri numbers in light music category.
A large number of music lovers of all ages, prominent writers and artists were present on the occasion including Prof Rehman Rahi and Ghulam Nabi Khayal.
Kashmiri folk music Cchakri and classical Sufiana music performances will feature the day 2 and day 3 of the festival on Thursday and Friday.
Just a minor correction. “Makikis taethis madni lalas.”