From Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijju to Jammu and Kashmir Horticulture Minister Basharat Bukhari, the who's who of Kashmir were present at the concert.
Thanks to Adnan Sami's musical concert, Kashmir is trying to make a new beginning after the bout of violent unrest.
Hundreds of people turned out to watch 'Rhythm in Paradise' on the lawns of Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on the banks of famed Dal Lake in Srinagar.
From Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijju to Jammu and Kashmir Horticulture Minister Basharat Bukhari, the who's who of Kashmir were present at the concert.
J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was in absentia, however, she hosted Sami and his wife when they called on her during the day. "Roya, Medina and I were delighted to meet Honorable CM of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti and her lovely family. Thank your for your kind hospitality," Sami tweeted before the concert.
Dressed in a black Khan suit with a Kafiya (Arab head scarf), Sami sung foot-taping numbers cheering up the audience. From Bar De Joli to Bighi Bighi… to Tera Chera .. to Kabhi to Nazar Milaw, he tried to connect with the people who were shouting requests for him to sing their favorite numbers.
Sami tried to strike a personal bond with the audience by his commentary after every song, by praising Kashmir's beauty to sharing anecdotes.
"God has made Kashmir with patience and a lot of love and care. There is spiritual attraction attached to the place. You have called me and I have come. We have come here to serve you," said Sami.
What brought the crowd to their feet, however, was Sami's hit number `Lift Karade'. Leaving their inhibitions behind, people rose from their seats and danced. They even obliged when he asked them to repeat the lines.
"This is a great effort. I wish the people and the government of J&Kashmir all the best. You know Adnan Samis is great musician, composer and singer. It is good that he has come. I have personally come to represent the government of India and to be part of this great evening," said Kiren Rijju.
More than 3,000 select people were invited for the show. However, there were some empty seats in the back rows prompting former J&K CM Omar Abdullah to take a jibe at the organisers.
"The empty seats and delayed start are showing Kashmir for what it is-empty hotels, poor governance and general public despondency", tweeted Omar.
Adil Khan, vice-president of Kashmir Hotel and Restaurants Association (KHARA), hoped the show will help dilute the negative perceptions of Kashmir. "If the show is marketed well, Kashmir's image will change for the better. But the participation was very less," he said.
Khan, however, was not happy with the arrangements with the show. "If you have invited 3,000 guests there should be adequate parking facilities. The parking is far away," he said.
Even as Sami was cheering the crowds, militants attacked a road opening party of CRPF at Kulgam injuring a sub inspector. "Militants traveling in a car fired at our road opening party injuring our sub inspector. He received bullet wounds in his arm but is stable," said Rakesh Yadav, CRPF spokesman for Kashmir.
Union Minister of State for home said the situation is improving because people of Jammu and Kashmir want peace. "When general people desire peace, then the situation will improve," said Rijju.
Trouble in paradise
Even as Sami was cheering the crowds, terrorists attacked a road opening party of CRPF at Kulgam injuring a sub inspector. He received bullet wounds in his arm but is stable.
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