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 91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淭o be able to be there with my instrument, it was special, and I wouldn91裸聊视频檛 have felt complete without it there,91裸聊视频� Mand said Tuesday (May 3).

91裸聊视频淚t was windy and cold, and playing the instrument and keeping it in tune was a challenge,91裸聊视频� he added. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 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 I91裸聊视频檓 grateful for that, and also for the sherpa for being so careful while carrying it.91裸聊视频�

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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.

91裸聊视频淎s a child I always had a fascination with climbing mountains and of course Mt. Everest,91裸聊视频� Mand explained. 91裸聊视频淗ere I91裸聊视频檝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.91裸聊视频�

Mand has done 91裸聊视频渨hat others can91裸聊视频檛 even imagine,91裸聊视频� said his proud sister, Raman.

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

In 2019, CBC Music named him among .

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a milestone in my life,91裸聊视频� Mand said at the time. 91裸聊视频淎nd it91裸聊视频檚 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 I91裸聊视频檓 really happy about.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚 used to listen to opera and classical music as a young child, and I eventually asked my parents for a sitar,91裸聊视频� he recalled.

91裸聊视频淚 fasted and didn91裸聊视频檛 eat in order for them to get me a sitar,91裸聊视频� Mand added. 91裸聊视频淚 was doing a hunger strike 91裸聊视频� 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.91裸聊视频�

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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