NEW DELHI: Classic instrumentals with Violin, Sufi Vocal and Dogri Folk music presentations were the highlights of the special session conceived and designed for local residents, students and yatris at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Spiritual Growth Centre, Katra.

The concert commenced with a scintillating violin recital by Vidushi Kala Ramnath, one of India's finest Violinists and Grammy Award nominees who presented Vilambit and Drutlaya Teentaal in Raga Shudh Sarang, demonstrating a fine balance of Gayaki and Tantrakari Ang in her recital. The audience was mesmerised with her presentation, and jugalbandi with Pandit Mithilesh Jha on Tabla.

This was followed by a soulful Dogri folk presentation by one of the senior artists and renowned folk singers of Jammu and Kashmir- Ms. Krishna Kumari. She was accompanied by Shubash Kumar on Tabla, Rakesh Deol on Harmonium, Jagmeet Singh on Guitar, Sunil Sharma on Flute and supported on vocals by Dr. Chanchal Sharma and Shri G.R. Malhotra. She commenced her recital with the Ganesh Vandana 'Jai Ho Sri Ganesh' followed by a Baakh 'Jaali Jai Pahadiye Da Desh' and Maata Ke Bhaint 'Janam Janam Tak Hai Jagdambey'.

The programme concluded with enchanting Sufi renditions by the young Sufi Songstress Ms. Ragini Rainu, one of the best Sufi singers of the country, who captivated the audience with her renditions. She presented Baba Bulle Shah's qualam 'Ke Bedarda Sang Yaari' followed by a Meera Bhajan 'Mero Man Ram He Ram Rattey Re Mero Man' and Maata Ke Bhaint 'Mere Mata Ke Jaijakar'. The compositions were by music legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori. Ragini made the audience sing with her, making it a memorable experience for listeners. She was brilliantly accompanied by Mithilesh Jha on Tabla, Damodar Lal Ghose on the Harmonium and Jagmeet Singh on Guitar. Ragini, who represents the Sufiana Gharana of Kashmir, demonstrated a strong base of classical gayaki embedded with fluency, aesthetics and expressions. Her exuberance and inimitable voice brought to life the ecstatic expression of Sufism, each rendition drowning the audience in the richness of this tradition and sending them into raptures.

SaMaPa Aalap Festival 2014 is being presented by Sopori Academy of Music And Performing Arts in collaboration with SMVDSB, Jammu & Kashmir Police, and Department of Tourism, Jammu.

Earlier maestro Abhay Rustum Sopori highlighted the vision of SaMaPa in preserving and propagating the rich cultural heritage J&K State. He said SaMaPa is a cultural movement translating from the deep rooted vision of the Chairman, the Music Legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori, and the tireless efforts of the members of Board in creating a unique, unbiased and empowering national level platform for presentation, propagation, and teaching of traditional music and performing arts for the artists and the young talents. He shared his concern for Dogri and Kashmiri folk music and musicians and Sufi music of Kashmir and asked the young children to take the responsibility of the culture of the State, which is their main identity. He also thanked the festival supporters for being with SaMaPa in this movement.