Srinagar, Nov. 11 -- Pandit Abhay Rustum Sopori, the eminent Santoor Maestro & Music Composer, has been awarded the Sangeet Ratna Award 2025 by the Kirana Gharana Ustad Ashique Ali Khan Art and Music Trust. The function was held at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi.

Pt. Abhay Sopori, the present custodian (Khalifa) of the ancient Santoor tradition of India and the Sopori - Sufiana Gharana of Kashmir, the oldest known tradition of Santoor, the Shatatantri Veena.

He carries forward a legacy rooted in Shaivite - Sufi musical tradition of India. He has played a pivotal role in introducing cultural policy in Jammu and Kashmir, and integrating music as a formal subject in academic institutions, fostering a cultural renaissance, and nurturing thous...