Four Day Workshop on Traditional Ladakhi Music Surna (Shehnai)

Leh (Ladakh), March 4 – To encourage and support people interested in playing traditional music,  The J&K Cultural Academy, Leh today organized “The four days  workshop on Traditional Ladakhi Music Surna”  (Shehnai) . on the occasion some renowned  and  numbers of  Sunra Artists of traditional musician community of  different section  of Ladakh participated at Academy Hall Leh today with a scintillating musical show. 

Welcoming the guests, trainees and master trainers, the Special Officer for Culture, G1  Sh. Tsewang Paljor briefed the significance of this workshop. He said that musician community of Ladakh since from the centuries have been contributing a lot to maintain the richness of traditional music upto this date saying that this particular community is the only hope to carry forward the musical traditions of Ladakh to our posterity. He described the culture of Ladakh region as being very rich, which needed to highlighted and promoted for the benefit of the youth. He  underline the need to spread awareness about the rich ethos, history, amity in diversity, He further  assured the people of Ladakh that their rich language culture & traditions would be promoted and protected at all cost.  This workshop mainly organized to aim of promoting awareness among youth of ladakh region about the traditional, art and  culture of the region. Teaching them folk music surna  and other traditional music is a part of cultural academy  programme. On the occasion Padmee Shri Morup Namgial and Sh Ali Mohd (Renowen Surna Muscian) was Chief Guest and Guest of Honor cum expert on the occasion.

Welcoming the  four days  workshop, the Padmee Shri Morup Namgial appreciated J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Language, Leh  for conducting such an essential  training to the Ladakhi Muscians who are determine to nourish the traditional music of Ladakh and would play a great role to pass on this musical knowledge to our coming generations.  He  urged upon the musician community to give more focus on the education of their children along with parallel musical skill to them. He further said that  the Cultural Academy to launch massive awareness camps in every nook and corners of Leh district to educate the people about the significance of culture, use of traditional costume, language so that Ladakh in the real sense represent as a well cultured region to the world.  

On the occasion Sh. Ali Mohd (Renowen Surna Muscian) who was the guest of honor on the occasion said that it is prime responsibility of every Ladakhis to protect and conserve our rich traditional and cultural values. He urged upon the community of musicians to encourage their unemployed youth to take their traditional practices seriously as a professional as it has now growing demand especially during summer. spoke on the occasion and urged for collective efforts to preserve and promote the musical importance.

The Workshop cum Tanning started from  today on 4^th March 2013 to 8^th March 20013 at Academy Hall, Leh. The programme was conducted by Sh. Tundup Dorjey, Research Assistant.

Cultural Academy Leh organizes Balti Mehfil-e-Mushaira

Leh (Ladakh), March-2 – Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Leh organized a Balti Mehfil-e-Mushaira at Academy Hall, Leh. As many as 16 poets from in and around Leh town recited their compositions in Balti languages. Sheik Zainulabidin, Prominenet Religious Scholar of Ladakh was the Chief Guest. Speaking on the occasion, Sheik Zainulabidin lauded the efforts of the Academy in organizing such programme from time to time. He termed the poets as the eyes of the society who can play a great role in eradicating the social evils by virtue of the persuasive power of their poetry. He also lauded their untiring efforts for taking keen interest in the realm of poetry that has no apparent benefits in terms of money. He also urged upon the Special Officer for Culture G1, Leh to organize such literary programmes at different places so as to disseminate the poetic tradition and message to wider audiences.  On the occasion Sheikh Hussain Ali, Imam-e-Juma cum Religious Scholar of Ladakh Region, said that it is a matter of great satisfaction that the land of Leh has a good number of poets in such a small magnitude of population as compared to other places. He further emphasized the need to organize such programmes at schools and colleges with the objective to impart awareness and to imbibe poetic inspiration among the younger lot. Earlier in his welcome speech, The Editor Leh, Ge. Tsering  Chosphel  said that Cultural Academy Leh  is always is committed to the preservation and promotion of Art, Culture and Languages in Leh district through such literary and many other such programmes. He applauded the role of poets in Leh in guiding and encouraging young and firsthand poets to excel in the field of poetry and literature. He also said that the local poets have the caliber to keep the tradition of poetry in this part of the world alive in a local context and local aura. He said that Cultural Academy is always open to lend a helping hand to the people who are interested to showcase their poetic talent and urged upon the novices to make it possible to participate in such programmes so as to have a knowhow of the ambience and to seek necessary guidance from the senior poets. He urged upon the concerned quarters connected with the Academy to keep continuing their support enabling the Academy to fulfil the desired objectives with ease and contentment. Following poets participate in the Mehfil-e-Mushaira, Sh. Mumtaz Hussain Thiksey, Sh. Nazir Hussain, Sh. Mohd. Ali, Haji Ghulam Mohd, Ghulam Rasool Phyang, Smt. Fatima Banoo Chochut, Sh. Mohd Habib, Sh. Akhtar Hussain Thiksey, Sh. Mohd Qasim, Smt. Shamsia Bano Chochout, Sh. Abdul Rahim Ashur Turtuk, Sh. Mohd Iqbal, Sh. Abdul Rahim, Sh. Shujat Ali, Sheikh Zainul-Abidin and Among others, who were present on the occasion included prominent citizens, local poets, scholars, district officers, school & college students and a large number of general public. Sh. Ali Mohd. Conducted the proceedings while as Dr. Thupstan Nurboo, Assistant Editor, delivered the Vote of Thanks.