New Delhi: Renowned conductor Zubin Mehta today said "music is the message of peace and music only brings peace"
He sought people's blessings ahead of his much awaited concert in Srinagar on Saturday.
“I am extremely happy for my country having honoured me this way. I hope we have the blessings of the whole country for our music tomorrow,” said Mehta.
Nearly 1,500 music enthusiasts are expected to attend the concert in Srinagar, with the hardliner faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Gilani threatening to disrupt it. The concert will be held at a Mughal era terraced garden on the banks of the picturesque Dal Lake.
German ambassador to India Michael Steiner has organised this event. Steiner said, the aim of the concert was to "reach the hearts of the Kashmiris with a message of hope and encouragement."
After receiving the Tagore award for cultural harmony from India's President Pranab Mukherjee, Mehta sidestepped the controversy over his decision to hold the concert in the disputed region by saying: “I didn't choose Kashmir, Kashmir chose me.”
At the Saturday concert, as the orchestra plays pieces by Beethoven, Haydn and Tchaikovsky, speedboats will patrol the lake.
Security forces will set up a security cordon two miles from the event. Only guests with special passes will be able to enter the area after being frisked and scanned by metal detectors.
