SMVDU Katra 3rd November: A Three-Day Mega Festival of Devotional Music - ‘Bhakti Utsav’ presented by Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, an autonomous body of Ministry of Culture, Government of India in collaboration with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, was inaugurated on 3rd November 2017 at 5.30 pm at Matrika Auditorium, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University. Dr. Rajneesh Anand, Chief Scientist CSIR-IIIM Jammu was the Chief Guest on the occasion, whereas Padmashree Balwant Thakur, Regional Director ICCR, Jammu, Prof. Shiv Nirmohi and Prof. Arvinder Singh Amn, Adl. Secy. Jammu Kashmir Academy of Art Culture and Languages, Dr. Suneet Marwah, CEO SMVD Narayana Super Speciality Hospital were the special guest on the occasion.

After the inaugural, Prahlad Singh Tipanya from Madhya Pradesh presented Nirgun Sangeet, followed by Abhang of Maharashtra by Shounak Abhisheki, Pune. The session concluded with Sufi Music recital by Wadali Brothers (Shri Puran Chand Wadali and Shri Pyarelal Wadali) from Punjab. It is pertinent to mention that entire festival is a curtsy from the Sangeet Natak Acadami and first ever such festival presented on the campus of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University.

Ms. Sameena, conducted all the proceedings of the first-day show. Dr. V. K. Tripathi, President Board of Cultural Activities SMVDU welcomed all the guests and acknowledged with thanks all the support received from Sangeet Natak Acadami, especially the Chairman Sh. Shekhar Sen and Secretary Ms. Reeta Swami Chaowdhari. He also conveyed the guests and audience the good wished of the Vice Chancellor Dr. Sanjeev Jain and acknowledged the unconditional support from him. Mr. Bharat Bhushan from Sangeet Natak Acadami New Delhi is the main functionary and coordinator of the festival. Sh. Subhash Singh Sambyal President Bar Association Jammu, Prof. V. K. Bhat Registrar SMVDU, Dr. Yugal Khajuria Dean of Students, Sh. Vinod Sharma, Administrative Officer, Mr. samir Vohra, Dr. Rakesh Kumar Vice-President BCA, Dr. Rajeev Atri, President BSA, Assistant Registrar Academic and many other dignitaries were present.