The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) regional centre, Srinagar, and the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) today jointly felicitated noted folk singer Abdul Rashid Hafiz.
A JKAACL spokesman said the function was held to celebrate conferment of the Sangeet Natak Akademi award to Hafiz.
The function was presided over by well-known writer Ghulam Nabi Khayal while prominent poet-broadcaster Farooq Nazki was the chief guest on the occasion.
In his welcome address, Regional Director, ICCR, Prof Ayaz Rasool Nazki highlighted the contribution of Hafiz to Kashmiri folk singing and described him as a legend of the art form. Raaz presented a paper on Kashmiri folk that had a special focus on Hafiz.
Nazki and Khayal also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the contribution of Hafiz to Kashmiri folk singing.
During the event, Hafiz was jointly felicitated by the twin organisations and was presented a shawl. Hafiz also performed on the occasion and mesmerised the audience with his soul-rendering renditions of Kashmiri folk, the JKAACL spokesman said. Among others, the function was attended by several prominent personalities, including Shabir Mujahid, Ayash Arif, Waheed Jeelani, Muneer Mir, Mohammed Yaqoob Sheikh, Prof. Nusrat Andrabi, and GR Hasrat Gadda.