Programme Highlights

“Vaani ‘Veena’ Ki”

21st to 27th February, 2010 at Chinmaya Vibhooti, Kolwan

Chinmaya Naada Bindu, Chinmaya Mission’s institute for Indian Music and Dance, just concluded a very successful ‘music intensive’ workshop under the tutelage of the world-renowned Dr.Veena Sahasrabuddhe.

Ten students gathered to take advanced training at Chinmaya Vibhooti, the ecstatic venue for the residential camp, in the lap of nature in the form of the Sahyadri mountain ranges. With all needs catered to, they forgot their daily chores and responsibilities and lost themselves to the strains of the musical notes that would constantly flow in the classes, back to their own rooms.

Not to forget the students’ spiritual needs, Brahmachari Atharvana Chaitanya, resident Acharya from Chinmaya Mission, Ahmedabad, mentally took them to the forests of Vrindavan, where the royal little Lord Krishna won and stole the hearts of everyone through the sounds of His divine Flute. Krishna’s ‘Venu Geetam’ did not distract the listeners to the notes played, but it attracted them straight to His divine presence. On the last day, Shri Himanshu Nanda’s flute recital at the end of the class was a fine topping on the cake.

Veenatai, as she is fondly known by all the students, kept harping on the fact that the music that we sing should lift us spiritually to a higher plane than we are in, as mentioned by Swami Tejomayanandaji, the present Head of the Chinmaya Mission – ‘from Swara to Ishwara’.

In the course of 7 days, she took up Vrindavani Sarang and Ahir Bhairav Ragas, covering three compositions in each Raga, along with innumerable tips on how to better one’s performance. She also included a Nirguni Bhajan in her course, which was appreciated by all. Special time was given for Riyaz, when the students could practise alone or in groups.

In the listening sessions, she taught each one how to listen to different artists with an open mind, whether it was vocal, instrumental or percussion, with a view to learning something.

The late evening sessions had the participants performing a couple of bhajans each, all coming up with the best they knew. The practical lesson on how to listen was learnt at these sessions, where the students found Veenatai listening to all of them with rapt attention, constantly appreciating them when they did well.

Pleased with the ambience of the venue and the arrangements, Veenatai has promised to be back for more such workshops organized by Chinmaya Naada Bindu, who took the offer with both hands!

The sessions were keenly attended by Smt Susheela Acharya, the mother of Bhajan groups in Chinmaya Mission! The best thing was, at 80, she too was inspired to creatively hum the Raga Vrindavani Sarang during the riyaz time!

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