Says “Samanbal has become a cultural movement in Kashmir”
Srinagar : The literary and cultural festival ‘Saman Bal’ was inaugurated by Dr. Syed Darakhshan Andrabi, Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, in collaboration with the Gulshan Cultural Forum and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
The festival commenced with a traditional ceremony involving the addition of fragrant rue to a Kangri, symbolizing cultural heritage. The inaugural event featured notable attendees, including Prof. Gulshan Majeed, Syed Bashir Kousar, Dr. Rafeeq Massodi, and Dr. Satish Vimal, who also delivered the keynote address. During the event, Dr. Andrabi presented the Andrabi Annual Awards for 2023 and 2024 to cultural activist G R Hasrat Gadha and Master Ghulaam Mohammad Dar, former Head of the Haqqani Memorial Trust. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of such events in inspiring rural communities to engage in arts and literature, highlighting ‘Saman Bal’ as a significant cultural movement in Kashmir. She announced plans for a major event in Srinagar during the summer and praised the Gulshan Cultural Forum for its three-decade commitment to promoting literature, performing arts, and theatre. Additionally, Dr. Andrabi released the annual magazine “Faryad,” published in the Kashmiri language, commending the editorial team and the organization for their efforts in maintaining high publication standards.
