Yognat10th Anniversary Report

[Guest guest]

HEAVEN COMES TO EARTH AT YOGANJALI NATYALAYAM'S

DECENNIAL CELEBRATION

 

For 250 young children and youth aged four years to thirty, who spent

seven hours daily dancing and performing Yoga Asanas, and thousands

of spectators, July 19th and 20th was a weekend lived in Indra Lokha –

heaven itself – as Yoganjali Natyalayam celebrated its Tenth

Anniversary with a spectacular Festival of Yoga, Dance and Music at

the Kamban Kalai Arangam, in Pondicherry.

 

The Municipal Auditorium was decorated in a pleasingly flamboyant

manner with multi-coloured Kholams brightening the walkway and

thoranams strung along the entrance. Artistic depictions of Yoganjali

Natyalayam's past programmes gave a visual history of the Institute's

artistic and Yogic renderings over the past ten years. Coloured

lights, potted plants, thumbhas and portraits of the Gurus of the

institution garlanded with flowers in a respectful and tasteful

manner gave the atmosphere a temple-like sacredness and serenity.

 

Programmes were held from 4 pm to 11 pm, daily with the Yoganjali

Natyalayam Carnatic Vocal Students rendering classical music as the

initial opening presentations. His Excellency the Lt. Governor of

Pondicherry Shri K.R. Malkani was the Chief Guest at the Inaugural

Session on Saturday. His Excellency the Lt. Governor, along with

Special Guest Padma Shri Adyar K. Lakshman of Chennai (Paramguru of

the Bharat Natyam sector of the Institute), Thiru S.P. Siva Kumar,

MLA, and other dignitaries seated in the audience were welcomed with

the traditional " Banner Dance " where each student of the Institute

came forward in a small team to offer " NAMASKARAM " to the audience

and show a Yoga Asana Tableau or a Bharat Natyam Korvai. This Banner

Dance was performed to the music of songs by Bharathiyar and

Bharathidasan.

 

The Banner Dance on Saturday was immediately followed by the special

item of the Festival, Natana Pujai Seivom, where the Nine Dance

Dramas staged by Yoganjali Natyalayam over the last ten years

(Kannappan, Karaikal Ammaiyar, Kamba Ramayanam, Nandanar, Meenakshi

Kalyanam, Andal Charitram, Nala Damayanthi, Sillappadikaram and

Ramavatara) were depicted in short Sanchari form, interspersed with

intricate Nritta Korvais. This enthralling item, originally

choreographed and composed by Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani and Dr.

Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, assisted by Smt. Devasena Bhavanani, was

forty-five minutes in length. Acrobatic Natya Karanas, the specialty

of Yoganjali Natyalayam, were interwoven in appropriate places in the

dance.

 

His Excellency the Lt. Governor of Pondicherry Shri Malkani Ji and

other dignitaries were then escorted to the stage. His Excellency

presented the " Decennial Address of Yoganjali Natyalayam " . He began

his speech by saying, " After witnessing such a wonderful performance,

which spun a magic in our souls, I feel reluctant to break the spell

with mere words. " He congratulated the Director Meenakshi Devi

Bhavanani and Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani and team for their

excellent efforts, in preserving the spiritual heritage of India. " We

need to develop " E.Q " , or our " Emotional Quotient " as well as

our " I.Q., " the Lt. Governor said. " For emotional stability and

skill, Yoga and the cultural arts are a necessity. " His Excellency

compared the work of Yoganjali Natyalayam to that of Rabindranath

Tagore's Shanti Niketan, as well as other leading cultural and

spiritual institutes of India. The Tenth Anniversary Souvenir of

Yoganjali Natyalayam of 350 pages was released by Shri Malkani on the

occasion.

 

Padmashri Adyar K. Lakshman, Chennai, Bharat Natyam Master of

Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani, gave the Opening Address and Benediction to

the Institute, praising Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani and Dr. Ananda

Balayogi Bhavanani for their brilliant combination of Yoga and Dance,

which he said, is unique, not only in India, but in the whole world.

Shri S.P. Sivakumar Ji, MLA, praised the work of the Director and

Chairman and said their efforts should receive national recognition

and awards.

 

His Excellency then presented Yoganjali Natyalayam's " Shiromani

Award " to nine eminent personalities of Pondicherry in the fields of

art and social service. The nine awardees were: Sevaratna Shri N.

Govindasamy (Karma Yoga); Kalaimamani Puduvai Shri V. Manikannan

(Nada Yoga); Kalaimamani Pulavar Shri I. Pattabiramane (Tamil Gnana);

Thiruvarur Shri R. Krishnamurthy (Nada Yoga);Kalaimamani Shri

Pudhuvaidassan (Nataka); Professor Dr. Madanmohan (Karma Yoga);

Kalaimamani Smt. Jayashree Narayanan (Natya); Sangeetha Bhushanam

Shri S.V. Jagadeeshan (Nada Yoga); Shri T.P. Santha Seelan (Karma

Yoga).

 

The International Award, Michael Danckwerts Yoga and Cultural

Excellence Award from Sydney, Australia, was won by V. Renuka Devi

and Padma M. Prashantini. Twenty-one candidates had vied for this

award which was judged on basis of Curriculum Vitae and an intensive

interview by a panel of five experts in field. Best Boy Award went to

R. Balaji and Best Girl Award to V. Renuka Devi. Veerya Award was won

by R. Chandrasekar. After the speeches and awards, cultural

programmes of folk dance , Bharat Natyam items and Yoga tableaus

followed.

 

On Sunday evening, the special programme was the Jugal Bandhi between

Yoga Asanas and Bharat Natyam in which one dancer performed a

classical Yoga Asana and the other dancers showed how the " theme " of

the Asana would be rendered in dance. Education Minister Shri K.

Lakshmi Narayanan, Shri R. Siva Ji, M.L.A., Shri Vijayan Ji,

Pondicherry Development Commissioner, Shri A. Anbalagan Ji, M.L.A.,

Smt. Vijaya Bhaskar of Bangalore, Shri V. Sivashanmugam Ji, Deputy

Secretary to Government (Retd.) and Shri M. Suganantham, Past

President Pondicherry Bar Association were Special Guests of the

second day. The International Scholarships from the world famous Yoga

Research and Education Centre (YREC) California, USA were awarded to

eleven students of Yoganjali Natyalayam. Twelve students received

Silver Medals for completing five years of study, and students who

won the " Point Prizes " in their section received certificate and

mementos. Sangetha Samrat Vijaya Bhaskar Awards for excellence in

Carnatic Vocal Music were also given. Lovely folk dances, Bharat

Natyam items interspersed with difficult Natya Karanas, and a

splendid Thematic Yoga Display rounded off Sunday's programme.

of Yoganjali Natyalayam Puduvai Kalaimamani Meenakshi Devi

Bhavanani explained that the aim of the Institute was to " supplement

academic education " with " the spiritual and creative nourishment of

Yoga and the cultural arts. " She outlined the plans of expansion for

Yognat's events, courses of study and building projects. She also

described the Seven Year Certificate and Nine Year Diploma Courses in

Yoga and Bharat Natyam, now available as part of studies at Yoganjali

Natyalayam.

 

Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, Chairman, paid tribute to the guiding

spirit of Yoganjali Natyalayam, Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda

Giri Guru Maharaj, " Swami Gitananda was a great visionary and

spiritual humanist, " Dr. Ananda said " He taught people how to live

the good life and made certain that the spiritual and cultural

heritage of India was accessible to all, whether high or low. He

taught us that health and happiness are our birthright and that

Moksha is our goal. Through Yoga and the Cultural Arts we may become

strong enough to claim our birthright and reach our goal! "

 

The two-day Festivities concluded by 10:30 pm on Sunday July 20th

night with Mangalam and the Universal Benediction, invoking peace on

earth and good will to men. " Yoganjali Natyalayam is now " charged up "

again to enter its second decade of growth, progress and service " ,

said Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani in her concluding remarks and vote of

thanks.