second article

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second article on Trinidad (found: starofmysore.com - search - Trinidad) JGD

 

Trinidad President, PM listen to Ganapati Seer's music

 

[Report from Trinidad] Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre of Trinidad and Tobago had

arranged two "Music for healing" concerts as part of the Swamiji's 61st

birthday celebrations. The first one in the Ashram prayer hall on 14th June

and the

second the next day in the newly-renovated Queens Hall auditorium in Port of

Spain.

Swami Manasa Datta lit the lamp and inaugurated the concert in the Ashram

prayer hall. Anand, the helicopter pilot who showered sacred water from the

helicopter on Hanuman statue on the day of the consecration, had the honour

of

offering Mala to the Swamiji.

The Swamiji performed for over two-and-half hours. The main Ragas were Shubha

 

Pantuvarali (Bhajan — Bhaja Bhaja Dattam) and Mohana Raga (Bhajan — Isha

Pateesha). The Swamiji had rehearsed for several days and had combined

several

new sounds from the synthesizer. Even an avid music lover could immediately

understand that the Swamiji was playing new sounds.

The Mohana Raga was eloquently treated with sounds of Chinese instruments in

the fore.

The Swamiji spoke much about the healing sounds prior to the concert. It was

a long evening. The audience of 1200 in the hall had a real fulfilling

experience of the Swamiji's mystical and healing sounds.

The concert on 15th, in Queen's Hall in Port of Spain was a mega event. The

concert was inaugurated by Prof. George Maxwell Richards, President of

Trinidad

and Tobago, who was blessed by the Swamiji with a jasmine garland. The

Swamiji performed for about 70 minutes. The main raga was Hindola (Bhajan —

Paalaya

Paalaya Sri Lalite) and Raga Gowri Manohari (Bhajan-Gangadhara Shiva).

Dr. L. Subramaniam had returned from US just hours earlier and accompanied

the Swamiji on violin. It was a wonderful combination.

Dr. Subramaniam's smooth and mellowed bowing created haunting yet mellifluous

 

notes which followed the Swamiji like a shadow.

His energetic playing during quick paced passages were awe-inspiring. The

hall had many dignitaries including Prime Minister, Mr. Patrick Manning,

Speaker

of the House of Representatives and Senate leader and several Cabinet

Ministers and diplomats from various Embassies.

The stage was tastefully decorated with green plants and shrubs and the

backdrop of a Himalayan scene made it feel as if the concert was being held

in the

green grassy slopes of Himalayas.

After the concert, the Swamiji honoured the President and the Prime Minister

with the traditional Mysore Silk Peta (Turban).

Prime Minister Mr. Manning presented to the Swamiji a book published by the

Government, "Facets of the Divine," which contains 61 exquisite photos of the

 

Swamiji as part of the 61st birthday celebrations held in Trinidad.

President Mr. Maxwell said that he was transported to a different sphere and

he never had such experience while listening to the music. He thanked the

Swamiji for the wonderful concert.

A surprise awaited Mr. K.B. Ganapathy, Editor, Star of Mysore, Mr. M.D.

Harishkumar Hegde, Advocate, Dr. N. Nithyanand Rao, orthopaedic surgeon and

Mr.

Zubair Ahmed Khan of National Marbles and Granites, all from Mysore, when the

 

Swamiji called them on to the stage and introduced them to the high

dignitaries

with great joy like a father introducing his children to a guest.

Before returning to the Ashram, the Swamiji visited the house of Mr. Ramesh

Persad Maharaj, President of Dattatreya Yoga Centre of Trinidad and Tobago.