The Santoor is an instrument of devotion, rooted in Kashmir’s spiritual and cultural history. At the Chinmaya Mission Auditorium in New Delhi, the second edition of World Santoor Day was a heartfelt tribute to that rich tradition. Organised by SaMaPa, the evening honoured the birth anniversary of the legendary Pandit Bhajan Sopori, known as the Saint of Santoor and the King of Strings. A Santoor ensemble in Raga Charukeshi brought together disciples of Pandit Abhay Rustum Sopori including Daniel Aakash Brunner from Germany, Suman Patra from Finland, and Indian artists Anoushka Majumdar, Poushali Dutta, Nairanjana Radhika and Dheeraj Vaishnav.
They were accompanied by Chanchal Singh on Jodi Pakhawaj and Tabla. Their performance was precise and expressive, with each note arriving gently, as though aware of its place in a larger tradition.
Young Divyansh Srivastava from Delhi gave a compelling solo in Raga Megh, accompanied by Anand Mishra and Chanchal Singh. His performance showed both skill and sincerity. It was followed by a Santoor duet by Vidushi Shruti Adhikari and her son Ninad Adhikari from Madhya Pradesh. Together, they presented Raga Madhukauns with Pt Durjay Bhaumik on Tabla, balancing control and grace in equal measure.
The evening culminated with a special solo recital by Pandit Abhay Rustum Sopori, accompanied by Pt Ram Kumar Mishra on Tabla. His rendering of Raga Sohni carried the weight of memory and devotion. It was both personal and profound. Prof Aparna Sopori described the celebration as a cultural movement aimed at repositioning the Santoor as a symbol of India’s spiritual and musical heritage. Pandit Abhay Sopori reflected on the growing global recognition of the instrument, with performances this year extending to Argentina, China, Colombia, and various parts of India.
The auditorium remained packed throughout. Listeners were part of a rare musical moment, where strings told stories, and silence sang between the notes.
