Sonu Nigam Performs Historic Concert Dal Lake in Srinagar

Mega-scale musical event marks major cultural milestone for Kashmir Valley

Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K): Bollywood playback singer Sonu Nigam held a major live concert on Sunday, October 26, at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, set against the beautiful backdrop of Dal Lake. The concert, organized by NDTV Good Times, is considered the first event of this large scale in the Valley in recent years, drawing attention to Kashmir’s cultural scene.

The event was planned as a grand tribute to the legendary singer Mohammed Rafi, whose 100th birth centenary is being celebrated. Sonu Nigam performed a mix of his popular Bollywood hits along with the timeless classics of Rafi Sahab.

The concert holds deeper meaning for the region. It is the first major performance by a big Bollywood artist in the Valley since the Pahalgam attack in April. The organizers and government officials see this event as a powerful way to revive cultural tourism and send a positive message about the region’s stability to the rest of the world. Local Kashmiri artists like Qazi Touqeer and Rauhan Malik also performed as opening acts.

J&K Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha welcomed the concert, stating that it would significantly help the tourism sector. LG Sinha said the event would “give a major fillip to the Union Territory's tourism sector and provide a valuable platform for local artistes to showcase their talent.”

On his arrival, Sonu Nigam expressed his gratitude, saying, “Celebrating his [Mohammed Rafi’s] legacy at Dal Lake in Kashmir, celebrating the zest of Kashmir, is going to be really wonderful and special.”

However, the event also faced some controversy. Before the concert, calls for a boycott trended on social media in Kashmir. This reaction stemmed from Sonu Nigam’s remarks from 2017 where he had raised concerns about the use of loudspeakers for the Azaan (the Islamic call to prayer). Social media users asked the organizers to be more sensitive to local religious sentiments. Despite the calls for a boycott, the event successfully went ahead, blending music and the majestic natural beauty of the Dal Lake.

The concert successfully concluded, creating a memorable cultural spectacle for those who attended. The organizers and local stakeholders hope that the positive attention generated by this high-profile event will encourage more cultural programs and continue the upward trend in tourism for Kashmir.