India - 1,200 sitarists create magical music together

Noida, Nov 21 (IANS) The soul-stirring music seemed to reach up to the heavens as 1,200 sitarists played together to create a scintillating symphony here Friday evening, holding the audience spell bound.

The 1,200 artists from different parts of the country, along with over 50 musicians from seven countries around the world, played at the Brahm Naad concert organised by the Art of Living Foundation. Besides the sitarists, there were artists playing the mridangam, narangi, flute, ghatam, tabla and key-board. The proceeds of the show will go to help Bihar flood victims.

The performance went on for over two hours.

'It’s a lovely sight and a spectacular event. I have seen shows in Asia, but this one is truly marvelous,' said Sarika Oberoi, 26, a music lover. 'The symphony is so well orchestrated that one can just immerse in the sea of music for hours. You just couldn’t ask for more. It’s so refreshing. It should surely be placed in the music records of the world.'

Another music lover, Jaspreet Kaur said: 'After Greek musician Yanni’s concert at the Taj Mahal 11 years back in March, 1997, this kind of show has come up for the first time in the country. And Noida couldn’t be more proud than to have hosted such a grand event. I would always cherish this day.'

A five-member team from the Guinness Book of World Records reviewed the show, Sangeeta Anand, chief coordinator-Art of Living Foundation, said.

'All these artists gathered here voluntarily to perform together. It is for the first time in the history that so many artists have come and performed under the same platform. Of these artists, two are child prodigies - one a six-year-old and another just seven years. Besides, we also have a woman sitarist who is on dialysis and took part in the show.'

Some of the guests at the event included noted Odissi dancer Sonal Mansingh, sitarist Ravi Shankar, flautist Hari Prasad Chaurasia, among others. Over 100,000 visitors came to watch the show that was conducted jointly with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

The dais was set on about one acre in the shape of a staircase, with the stairs ranging from 7 feet to 21 feet in height.