The 60th edition of the annual Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan was held in 24 cities and towns across the country on Saturday evening.

Several eminent and upcoming artists performed on stage before music lovers as part of All India Radio's mission to popularise and preserve the heritage of Indian classical music for posterity.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting (Independent Charge) Prakash Jawadekar praised yeoman service rendered by staff of All India Radio in patronising hundreds of classical musicians over the years, and also for carrying this classical art form which once used to be the exclusive preserve of the wealthy and elites to the households and huts of the common people.

Traversing down memory lane, he emotionally and nostalgically recounted how as a child belonging to a less than well-to-do family, he used to listen to the gramophone.

He said All India Radio has been at the forefront of organising immaculate musical events, which not only have a very significant role to carry forward and passing the heritage and tradition of Indian classical music of all genres and gharanas to the next generation, but also for developing Akashvani into a confluence of all - a gharana in itself.

Veteran artiste Shannu Khurana was also felicitated on the occasion in recognition of her life time contribution in the field of music by the minister and Prasar Bharti CEO Jawhar Sircar, himself an acclaimed cultural luminary and an outstanding visionary administrator.

The three-hour concert in Delhi, held at the Chinmaya Mission auditorium, featured Pandit Rupak Kulkarni on the flute and Abhisekh Raghuram, a Carnatic Vocalist.

The venue reverberated with cheers and claps of the appreciative audience, as both the artists transported them to a world of sublimity with their mesmerizing performances.

This year's Akasvani Sangeet Sammelan also made special note of the birth centenary of legendary doyens of Hindustani classical music Begum Akhtar.

The event was inaugurated with the lighting of the traditional lamp by Sircar and All India Radio Director General Fayyaz Sheheryar.

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