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 害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淭o be able to be there with my instrument, it was special, and I wouldn害羞草研究所檛 have felt complete without it there,害羞草研究所� Mand said Tuesday (May 3).

害羞草研究所淚t was windy and cold, and playing the instrument and keeping it in tune was a challenge,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檓 grateful for that, and also for the sherpa for being so careful while carrying it.害羞草研究所�

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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.

害羞草研究所淎s a child I always had a fascination with climbing mountains and of course Mt. Everest,害羞草研究所� Mand explained. 害羞草研究所淗ere I害羞草研究所檝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.害羞草研究所�

Mand has done 害羞草研究所渨hat others can害羞草研究所檛 even imagine,害羞草研究所� 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 .

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a milestone in my life,害羞草研究所� Mand said at the time. 害羞草研究所淎nd it害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檓 really happy about.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚 used to listen to opera and classical music as a young child, and I eventually asked my parents for a sitar,害羞草研究所� he recalled.

害羞草研究所淚 fasted and didn害羞草研究所檛 eat in order for them to get me a sitar,害羞草研究所� Mand added. 害羞草研究所淚 was doing a hunger strike 害羞草研究所� 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.害羞草研究所�

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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