Bhopal hosts international music festival

Bhopal, Jan 3(ANI): Scores of artistes from China, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Germany, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Israel, France, UK and Italy are participating in an International Music Festival being staged in Bhopal.

The unique four-day festival commenced on the New Year day and it will conclude on Monday.

Takahero Aure, an artiste from Japan who has learnt playing Santoor, presented a performance earning applauds from the audience.

"I initially learnt Santoor from my teacher in Japan, His name is Mijati and he is a senior disciple of Pandit Shivkumarji. Later I came to India with Mijati and through him I met Pandit Shivkumar ji and I have been learning Santoor from Panditji in Mumbai," Aure said.

Umakant Gundecha, a famous Indian classical vocalist, said that the efforts of Takahero deserve kudos on all fronts and specially for taking up Santoor so seriously.

"Look there is something unique in our (Indian) music and the people of different countries come here to learn it. But efforts of Takahero are praiseworthy. He has taken Indian music so seriously and he is learning it with sincerity and performs here and presents it professionally in front of us," Gundecha said.

Hundreds of music lovers were seen enjoying the instrumental music sessions by Takahero Aure and Camp Zuherman of Switzerland. (ANI)