Sitar
Concert
on 28th December 2006
Report by Ms. Sangeeta Adhikary
Miss Sangeeta Adhikary is introducing her
father to the audience
The origins of the
classical music of India can be found from the oldest of scriptures, part of
the Hindu tradition, the Vedas. Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes
music at length. The Indian classical music has its origin as a meditation
tool to attain Self-realization. All the different forms of these melodies
(Ragas) affect various "chakras" (energy centres, or "moods") in the path of
the "Kundalini". There are specific physical, mental, biological and
spiritual results associated with activation of these centres. Due to its
incredible power and spontaneous effects any celebration is incomplete
without music.
Thus the fourth day of the
celebrations of Omkarananda Mahotsava was dedicated to an evening of
spiritual classical music. The evening was unique in its own because the
eminent musician, Sitar Maestro Shri Jagat Adhikary offered "Sangeetanjali"
to the Lotus Feet of H.D. Paramahamsa Gurudev Swami Omkarananda Saraswatiji
Maharaj at Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir. The evening was inaugurated
with welcome address to the distinguished dignitaries and a brief
introduction of the artists was presented by Miss Sangeeta Adhikary, Head of
Department, Computer Science, Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam, Rishikesh.
Shri Jagat Adhikary, a
well-known Sitar Maestro, is a direct disciple of the world-famous Sitar
Maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar - a living legend. (The details of the
illustrious music career of Shri Jagat Adhikary were already published in
the last edition of Omkarananda Mahotsava in 2005. )
Shri Jagat Adhikary along with his Tabla-master,
Shri Santosh Kumar
Sangeeta Adhikary educated
the audience about Shri Adhikaryji's career as a great musician and his deep
connection with the world-famous Pandit Ravishankar, who himself had
selected the Sitar on which Shri Adhikaryji was playing today. Sangitaji
mentioned, that her father Adhikaryji has many Sitars, but this Sitar, in
spite of being very old (56 years), is very dear and precious to her father,
because Shri Ravishankar not only selected it for her father, but had often
played on it.
The saintly Sitar-maestro, Shri Jagat Adhikary,
fully merged
in his devotional music
Shri Adhikaryji started his
concert with a very ancient and unique Raga named "Gauri Manjari". It is one
of the very rare Ragas, which can be found only in the music archives. It is
a very soft, heart-touching and spiritual Raga. He was accompanied by a
young dedicated Tabla-player of Rishikesh, Mr. Santosh Kumar, who is a
disciple of a well-known musician, Pandit Ram Dasji of Pune. Maestro Shri
Adhikaryji concluded his concert with some devotional songs, as a sacred
offering to the Lotus-feet of Gurudev.
Soma and her students conclude the Sitar
programme with a Devi-Arati-Dance
Since Jagat Adhikaryji has
a deep liking for Somashekhari's spiritual dances, he had specially
requested her to perform a Devi Arati Dance in the end of his Sitar concert,
so that his beautiful musical, spiritual offering to Gurudev will be
complete with a divine dance offering.
Therefore Kumari
Somashekhari and her students performed a Devi dance in front of
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi, waving lights in front of Her and worshipping Her
through dance.
Soma and her students offering their Adorations to
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi
The presence of H.H. Swami
Vishveshwar'anandaji Maharaj, President of Omkarananda Ashram, the most
dedicated Karmayogi and beloved Disciple of H.D. Paramahamsa Gurudev Swami
Omkarananda Saraswatiji Maharaj, spiritually charged the entire audience.
Swamiji expressed his heartfelt thanks and deepest adorations to Shri Jagat
Adhikaryji for his performance. He praised the melodious and deeply
devotional way of Shri Jagat Adhikaryji's playing the difficult instrument
of Sitar. Then Swamiji honoured him with flowers and a shawl among clapping
of the whole audience. Also the Tabla-master and Miss Adhikaryji were
honoured for their wonderful contribution to this Sangeet concert.
The whole audience and all
members of the Omkarananda Ashram family took part in Omkarananda Arati and
then enjoyed a delicious Prasadam. Everyone present was grateful having got
the opportunity to take part in Omkarananda Mahotsava and enjoying a
wonderful divine Sitar concert as an offering to our beloved Gurudev
Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati.
Rim Banna performing in Omkarananda Patanjala Yoga
Kendra
Concert by Rim Banna
on 30th December 2006
On 30th December 2006, Rim
Banna, a famous Singer from Palestine, presented a concert with beautiful
songs in Sanskrit in the hall of Omkarananda Patanjala Yoga Kendra.
She was accompanied by her husband, who played the guitar. There was a very
good gathering. People from far and wide including tourists from abroad
attended the function. The heart touching voice of Rim Banna must have left
great remembering in the hearts of most of the people.
Dance
Evening in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir on 31st December 2006
The last day of 2006 in the
evening in front of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi was perfect. Even the cold
weather could not prevent a crowd of devotees watching the purely divine
dance of Somashekhari and her disciples. The children looked very cute in
their traditional dance dresses. It was visible that they were aware about
the fact that they are in wonderful different clothes, which presented them
in a beautiful way.
Soma's dance students perform dance to joyous
Bhajans
We could see that everyone
has tried their level best according to their talents through whatever they
learned under the able guidance of their teacher Soma. With the typical art
of worship through Indian Classical Dance, in which every movement and
special Mudras have their own meaning, Soma, in a glittering dance-dress,
presented a wonderful performance.
To make the audience
understand what they are going to see, Soma explained in very pure Hindi
before every dance all the details of every item.
The great moment came when
all dancers offered Arati and flowers to the Deities. The plates were nicely
decorated and shining Deepas on it marked the light, which they all carried
to the holy shrine of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi. For Somashekhari dance is
the way to God-Experience. Every dance, every expression, every movement
shall be a flower to the holy feet of Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda
Saraswati.
Offering of shining Deepas and flowers
to the
Divine Mother Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi
