Bhajana Ghoshti Enthrals – Rekindles Memories

SFV stalwarts do it once again. This time they have organized a two-day Sita Rama Kalyanam in Club House starting today. Kudos. 

The well-known artists include Sri Mukund Bhagavathar and Mohan Bhagavatar from Delhi’s ‘OS’ family; Sri Sriram Natesan Bhagavathar and Bangalore’s own known names, and of course, SFV’s Asthana Vidwan, Ravichandran of Alder. 

It was a pleasure after a while to listen to sampradaya bhajan. Each one on the dais proved an accomplished artist – be it the vocalists, the mridangist or the harmonium player. Their captivating performance from 9 am to 9 pm elevated the mood of SFVians beyond measure. 

Bhajan has been a part and parcel of our religion. In fact, the path prescribed in Bhakti yoga is chanting, Chanting, and CHANTING. And, today’s rendering by an ensemble of learned bhagavatars was really enthralling. Blessed were the SFVians who could be part of it.

Prasadam was a sort of pot luck – distributing whatever the devotees had brought  – sweets, lemon rice, puliyogare, payasam, curd rice…It was more like enjoying a meal at a picnic. A refreshing change.

The afternoon session was marked by an accredited artist from Hyderabad dancing to the hymns on various Gods. Simply fantastic. Wondered how he was able to do it for four hours. In the case of vocalists they could at least take turns. Here he had to perform solo. Kudos.

Any such performing event can only be as successful as the interest evinced by the audience.  Given this yardstick, I would give it 9 out of 10. Yes, I didn’t find the menfolk dancing to the various rhythmic beats. Kudos to the ladies. They took the cake. Their kolaattam (stick dance) to the Radhey Govinda song won them accolades. 

On hindsight, to be fair the menfolk, they were busy managing the crowd, providing extra chairs, and making routes for people to come and go…So, that balances out.

The organizers had planned everything to a T. For the afternoon session, depending on what hymn was being sung, SFV children dressed as Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman, Krishna, or Shiva-Parvathy, entered the ‘stage’. Consequently, it was cameras clicking all the way. Children always look the best – no doubt about it.

A 9 am to 9 pm singing – of course by turn – and having to perform tomorrow also is no doubt a tall order. But they are professionals and are accustomed. God save their vocal cord. Alas, Aunty and I will miss tomorrow’s event here – sammandhi’s gruhapravesam ceremony. Thank you organizers, nonetheless

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In a lighter vein, this took me to my village days. We had a Bhajana Matam where we performed bhajan every Ekadasi. Very often there were no sponsors for prasadam. One resident ran a shop - bananas, betal leaves, nuts, biscuits… The understanding was he would bring 6 bananas on such occasions, and we in turn would allow him to be the lead singer for six songs – though not known for maintaining taal. But beggars cannot be choosers. At the start of the bhajan there would be 8 to 10 people. But we will continue with the session till the number reduced to 6 so that we could enjoy one full banana each.. On one occasion an elderly person attended in the hope the banana could prove a laxative next morning. He went out for a while. We thought he had gone home and hurried with Mangalam song and were eating the banana when he showed up. “You silly boys,’ he began yelling the next five minutes and swore to complain to the President of the Village.

In another instance, the famous bhajan singer Murugadas was to give performance in Kalpathy, Palakkad. People from nearby villages thronged to hear him.  But he did not turn up till 9 pm. People began to leave. The organizers announced that the local bhajan group would perform instead, just for 15 minutes and then distribute prasadam. This group was not known to possess the best of vocal cords. Exodus continued. One enterprising chap from the organizers saved the situation: “I learn there will be five types of prasadam. And this time it is from the house of Kavasseri Parameswaran mama.”  Mama was known to offer the best of prasadams and liberally. People rushed back to their seats. Five minutes later deeparadhana and prasadam distribution were done with no discontentment on either side.

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