Handshake Concert: Raj Bhavan sings for friendship and unity

[caption id="attachment_86563" align="alignnone" width="500"] Dr. Kamala Shankar performing at the 4th edition of the Raj Bhavan Handshake Concert at Kohima on December 2 evening.[/caption] Kohima, Dec. 2: The fourth edition of the Raj Bhavan Handshake Concert, organised by Rattle & Hum Music Society, was held this evening at Kohima. A host of dignitaries including Nagaland legislators, government officials from the centre as well as the state and others, attended the musical concert which was held at the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan. The performers for the night were Lü Keva, a singing group from Dimapur, Ligu Kro, a Chakhesang cultural group, Day Spring Acapella Group from Rengma Baptist Church, Kohima, Akhrole Keyho, a prodigy and Kanglei Shaktam Langba Kanglup, a dancing group from Manipur. This year’s edition of the Raj Bhavan Handshake Concert also had the presence of a very special artiste from Varanasi, Dr Kamala Shankar, the director and founder of Shakara Arts Foundation, formed in 2007. Dr Kamala Shankar is the only woman to hold a doctorate degree in Slide Guitar from Banaras Hindu University. Shankar attracted worldwide attention by successfully converting the western Hawaiian slide guitar into the ‘Shankar Guitar’ which has overtones of the classical Veena and Sitar. [caption id="attachment_86566" align="alignnone" width="500"] Day Spring Acapella Group from Rengma Baptist Church, Kohima performing at the 4th edition of the Raj Bhavan Handshake Concert at Kohima on December 2 evening.[/caption] Earlier, advisor of Rattle & Hum Music Society, Abu Metha said the Handshake Concert was being organized annually to spread unity and friendship across the world. Just last month, the Handshake Concert was held in South Korea, he informed.   Mention be made that the Handshake Concert had been organised in countries like Thailand (Bangkok), Indonesia, China and South Korea and in some of the major Indian cities. “This platform is to display the talents as well as to create friendship and promote unity,” he said. The musical programme was also attended by the wife of the governor, Kavita Acharya, Dr Neikiesalie Kire, minister for Forests, Environment and Climate Change and Er Levi Rengma, parliamentary secretary for Housing, among others.