A Surrey-based sitar virtuoso might be the first person to ever play the instrument at the base of Mt. Everest.

Last month Sharanjeet Singh Mand made the trip to Nepal with a group of 11 people, and carried his delicate sitar up the famous mountain to its base camp 香蕉视频直播� near the top of the world, so to speak.

For Mand, the highlight of the 10-day trek was playing his sitar near the mountaintop on April 26, for a video now posted to his Facebook page.

香蕉视频直播淭o be able to be there with my instrument, it was special, and I wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 have felt complete without it there,香蕉视频直播� Mand said Tuesday (May 3).

香蕉视频直播淚t was windy and cold, and playing the instrument and keeping it in tune was a challenge,香蕉视频直播� he added. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a very delicate instrument, and extreme cold can damage it, so I had extra pairs of everything in case anything breaks on it. It was all good, and I香蕉视频直播檓 grateful for that, and also for the sherpa for being so careful while carrying it.香蕉视频直播�

(STORY CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO)

Mand said he and the sherpa took turns carrying the instrument up the mountain, for six to eight hours a day in low oxygen.

Now back home in Surrey, Mand lived in Newton prior to a recent move to the Ocean Park area of South Surrey.

香蕉视频直播淎s a child I always had a fascination with climbing mountains and of course Mt. Everest,香蕉视频直播� Mand explained. 香蕉视频直播淗ere I香蕉视频直播檝e been hiking and I met people who were planing a trip there, but then COVID happened and that got delayed, but it finally happened this year. I might go again.香蕉视频直播�

Mand has done 香蕉视频直播渨hat others can香蕉视频直播檛 even imagine,香蕉视频直播� said his proud sister, Raman.

RELATED, from 2019: .

Born and raised in India, Mand moved to Canada in 2014.

In 2019, CBC Music named him among .

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a milestone in my life,香蕉视频直播� Mand said at the time. 香蕉视频直播淎nd it香蕉视频直播檚 the first time an Indian classical musician has been on the list, and that should open so many doors for other musicians, other ethnic musicians. That is something I香蕉视频直播檓 really happy about.香蕉视频直播�

Mand has been playing sitar for more than a dozen years, and also teaches others. While in high school, someone challenged him to play the sitar at a time when he was studying science, not music.

香蕉视频直播淚 used to listen to opera and classical music as a young child, and I eventually asked my parents for a sitar,香蕉视频直播� he recalled.

香蕉视频直播淚 fasted and didn香蕉视频直播檛 eat in order for them to get me a sitar,香蕉视频直播� Mand added. 香蕉视频直播淚 was doing a hunger strike 香蕉视频直播� that is how much I wanted it. I was doing well in science and they were concerned about me playing music, so they were reluctant. But as soon as I sat with a sitar, I just felt complete. It was very beautiful for me.香蕉视频直播�

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Follow us on and follow Tom on