Programme Highlights

“Holi ke Rang  – Raagon ke Sang”

March 21 to 23, 2008 at Chinmaya Vibhooti, Kolwan

To the delight of music enthusiasts, there was rang in the raagas, and raaga in the rang they played with at Chinmaya Vibhooti in Kolwan.

Of some 115 people who assembled here, music may not have been new to some; what they found unique was the place where this festival, Holi, was held – Chinmaya Vibhooti, which nestles in the ghats of Sahyadri, close to Pune (where Poojya Gurudev started off his Geeta Jnana Yajnas) and Dehu (the tapobhoomi of Sant Tukaram).

Away from the bustle of city life and never-ending target-chasing and meeting of deadlines, in the serene surroundings of the hills, cool breeze, and the soul filling silence, the lovers of music were well-tuned to experience the naada bindu and at the end of the three-day feast to hearts, all felt grateful to Poojya Guruji for conceiving this unique initiative ---- Naada Bindu as the pathway to bliss.

Smt Pramodini Rao, lovingly called didi by the young members of Chinmaya Swaranjali, was ably supported by her team of young and talented resource personnel --- Himanshu Nanda , Anupam Mishra, Sachikanta Rath and Ujwala Acharya. Susheela Acharya Amma was present at all sessions, sometimes accompanying the singers on the harmonium, or nodding in appreciation as many of her bhakti geets were sung in joy and devotion.

After a brief introduction to raaga and taala, the participants were treated with some excellent singing by members of Swaranjali, flute sessions by Himanshu, group bhajan singing, with the open session where enthusiastic participants – young and old, men and women gave solo performances, singing songs in multiple languages! Evening satsangs, spiced with stories and anecdotes, were held by Br Shailesh Chaitanya, Acharya-Pune, wherein he stressed on the importance of listening to our inner voice, and of maintaining peace of mind.

Like icing on the cake, were the concluding performances by Himanshu, Pramodini didi and the special guest for the evening from Taegaon, Shri Kiran Parlikarji, who treated the audience to the compositions of Sant Tukaram. In the valedictory session, some members gave their impressions (mostly good!); followed by inspiring addresses by Brni. Girija Chaitanyaji and Shri Kiran Parlikarji.

The occasion was Holi, and it would have been an incomplete camp without the actual play with colours and burning of Holika. So, we did just that. On 21st night, a huge bonfire was lit, in which Holika, painstakingly made with eco-friendly material by Shyamala Acharya, was burnt. Prahlad was made to sit on her lap. Campers rejoiced the destruction of evil in the form of Holika, with singing bhajans and dancing. The next day at the appointed time, there was frenzy with colours, finally being washed away with a powerful garden sprinkler!

In one of the feedback forms a participant expressed his desire to be at Chinmaya Vibhooti every month for such sangams of raagas and rasikas.
With the blessings of Guruji, it is hoped Chinmaya Naada Bindu will have its premises ready at an early date so that several activities can be started to make it a great centre for music and dance.

- Subba Rao, Mumbai