NEW DELHI: Veteran sitar exponent Pandit Debu Chaudhuri received the SaMaPa Vitasta award for lifetime achievement while Munir Ahmed Mir received the SaMaPa award for his dedication and immense contribution to the Kashmiri light and folk music (Srinagar).

Subhra Mazumdar received the SaMaPa Acharya Abhinavgupt Samman for her lifetime contribution to the field of music as a music critic (Delhi).  The SaMaPa Yuva Ratan Samman was conferred on the young vocalist Dhananjay Hegde for his achievements in the field of Hindustani Classical Music -Vocal (Bangalore).

The awards instituted by SaMaPa (Sopori Academy of Music And Performing Arts) were given by former Union Minister LK Advani and SaMaPa Academy founder and Chairman Pandit Bhajan Sopori at the commencement of the tenth annual Sangeet Sammelan 2014.

SaMaPa awards are the exclusive national level honours pertaining to Jammu & Kashmir. Music maestro Vice-Presidents Abhay Rustum Sopori, Prof. Aparna Sopori, and Doordarshan Deputy Director General Rafiq Masoodi and senior music critic Pt. Vijay Shanker Mishra were also present on the stage.

'SaMaPa Vitasta Award' is given for unparallel contribution to Indian art and heritage. The award has been named after the historical river Vitasta of Kashmir also known as the Jhelum. The Vitasta represents the cultural ethos and rich heritage of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The award carries a cash component of Rs. 50,000. 'SaMaPa Sher-e-Kashmir Award for regional contribution carries cash award of Rs. 25,000.

'SaMaPa Acharya Abhinavgupt Samman' - a special award named after Acharya Abhinavgupt of 10th century from Kashmir - is given to music critics, musicologists and scholars for their extraordinary work towards music and performing arts. The honour carries cash award of Rs. 11,000. 'SaMaPa Yuva Ratan Samman' has been instituted to recognise, encourage and felicitate the young generation artistes of the country who are doing exceptionally well in their respective fields and carries cash award of Rs. 11,000.

SaMaPa Sangeet Sammelan 2014 will feature concerts by Ajay Prasanna (Flute), Anjani Mishra, Nitin Sharma, Sameer Bhalerao, Dhananjay Hegde, Kaivalya Kumar  (Vocal) Prateek Chaudhuri, Shubhendra Rao, Pt. Debu Chaudhuri (Sitar) Saskia Rao (Cello), Sugato Bhaduri (Mendolin) Rekha Nadgauda, Aditi Nadgauda Panse and Kirti Kala Mandir dance troupe (Kathak choreography) and Abhay Rustum Sopori and Pt. Bhajan Sopori (Santoor) amongst other.

SaMaPa is acclaimed as a Cultural Bridge of the State of Jammu & Kashmir with rest of the country and to have created a new generation of music connoisseurs. SaMaPa widens its horizon into the general masses by creating the right platform for better appreciation and understanding of the traditional music and its technicalities, and enabling them to utilise the power of music in leading a more balanced life, as well as exploring opportunities with music as means to their employment.