13th Annual Day of Yognat 2006- A report

[Guest guest]

All The World’s A Stage “All the world’s a stage” said the poet! But the opposite is also true! The stage can also contain the whole world! The eleven – hour –

long extravaganza – A Festival of Yoga, Dance and Music – presented as the 13th Annual Day of Yoganjali Natyalayam recently in Pondicherry was proof of this! The entire gamut of human experience was encapsulated as gods battled demons, lovers separated and were

reunited, Lord Rama triumphed over universal adversity, gypsies frolicked and farmers joyfully celebrated their harvest! Krishna played his tricks and Lord Ganesh as a youth was destroyed and transformed into an elephant headed God by his father Lord Shiva! The Nava Rasas – nine emotional nuances which flavour human life – flitted from face to face, moment to moment. Flexible strong young bodies twisted, turned, bent forward – backward in a grand celebration of the victory of will power over recalcitrant flesh! The 250 young artists of Yoganjali Natyalayam, under the direction of Puduvai Kalaimamani Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani and Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, proved the truth of the Institute’s motto: “Spiritual Perfection through Yoga and the Carnatic Arts – Making the ordinary extraordinary, and the extraordinary great!” A team of twenty five teachers, fifteen musicians and twenty stage assistants worked in unison to create a “parallel universe”, which was in many ways more real than the existent one! Certainly, it was more meaningful and beautiful than the one reflected back in the daily news! The most sublime musical composition - Jagadananda Karaka (Nattai – Adi Thalam), a Gana Raga Pancharathna of Saint Thyagaraja – was an unbelievable exhibition of ecstatic Bhakti worthy of the great saint as eighteen senior dancers of Yoganjali Natyalayam moved in intricate formations with high-speed, energetic Nritta. Combined with subtle Abhinaya, the 30 minute Bharat Natyam item celebrated the grandeur of Lord Rama’s life and legacy. With original choreography by Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, Jagadananda Karaka was the “showcase” item of the Festival. Gypsy dances by tiny tots were at the other end of the spectrum, enthralling all with their innocent enthusiasm and colourful tribal costumes. The seven classical dances of India – Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Mohiniatam, Manipuri, Bharat Natyam and Odissi – danced in a Jugalbandhi to “Vande Matharam” and concluded with a stage parade behind the Indian Flag was a big colourful hit with the gorgeous costumes highlighting India’s cultural diversity. An intricate Pushpanjali, a novel Jattiswaram and numerous Keethanas mixed with the energetic Khollatam and Folk Dances created a truly festive swirl of colour and sound on the beautifully decorated stage. The nine Rasas of the human emotional range were explosively explored in all their Bhava-drenched

glory! The programme began at 3 pm on a spiritual note with the chanting of Hanuman Chalisa. Then, more than 70 youngsters in the four sections of Carnatic Vocal classes gave one hour of beautiful Carnatic Vocal selections. The traditional Yoganjali Natyalayam Banner Dance saw nearly 100 children in groups of three or more displaying Asanas in artistic

tableau format. English Mantras – Positive Thought Forms with appropriate Mudras – gestures – uplifted the mind. Mind – boggling acrobatic – gymnastic Yoga Asana Tableaus involving triple-decked Asana formations in 14 patterns were presented by the senior boys. More than 250 students of Yoganjali Natyalayam ranging in age from 4 to 24, cooperated in creating a fantasy which projected the message – “The Lord is in his heaven and all is well with a world which has such children in it”. Most of the items presented were originally choreographed,

conceived and designed by Yoganjali Natyalayam Director Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani and Chairman Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani. Dr. Ananda noted in his inaugural address: “The Pancharathna Krithi item is our tribute to Saint Thyagaraja, our way of paying homage to him and creating interest in the younger generation in his Bhakti – drenched form of Yoga”. The hall overflowed from 3 pm to 11 pm as the people came and went, soaking in the vibrations of the Yogic proclamation. “Satyam – Shivam, Sundaram” (The essence of life is Truth – Goodness and Beauty) without even realizing it. Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani Director, Yoganjali Natyalayam pointed out in her welcome speech, “Bharata Muni” said in his Natya Shastra that this art is to uplift the people who cannot understand the Vedas because of their sublimity. The Vedic message is “sugar coated” by our cultural performing arts and easily absorbed by the common man in the form of music, dance and drama”. She added. “True art must purify the heart. Our Indian Samskrithi (culture) has no parallel in history for its ability to bring abstract spiritual concepts

to the enjoyable sensual plane where they may be assimilated into the sub-consciousness by even the ordinary man. This subliminal conditioning elevates the individual life style, creating peace and joy in daily interactions”. Chief Guests of the evening were the Honourable Minister of Education and Art and Culture, Thiru M.O.H. F Shajahan Avl., and the Pondicherry Representative in the Indian Parliament Dr. M Ramadass Avl. Special Guests were Prof. Mamota Das Ji, Director, UGC-Academic Staff College, Pondicherry University and Shri J.

Aravindan, Avl., Chief Mentor, Achariya Group. Dr. M Ramadass MP said that the unique combination of Yoga and Bharat Natyam is “a new art” nurtured by Yoganjali Natyalayam in Pondicherry and is its unique contribution to Indian culture. He mentioned that when he is in Delhi, Members of Parliament including Smt. Sushma Swaraj, who witnessed Yoganjali Natyalayam’s performance at Raj Nivas last year during their visit in Pondicherry, always remind him of how spectacular the Yoganjali Natyalayam programme of the acrobatic Asanas with Bharat Natyam had been. Shri M.O.H. F Shajahan said that Yoga is very important for youth and children and that Government will be introducing Yoga in Government Schools. He appreciated the quality, of performance and work of Yoganjali Natyalayam under direction of Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani and Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani. Shri J Aravindan reminded all to feel gratitude to the parents and teachers who worked hard to support the art. Dr. Mamota Das noted that Yoganjali Natyalayam was entering its “teens” (13th Year) and that the “teenage years” were years of “fun, frolic, gaiety, creativity and expansive energy”. She said the Festival embodied that youthful teenage spirit! Yoganjali Natyalayam’s Festival of Yoga, Dance and Music sounded its last note only by 11 pm – but the auditorium was still full of Rasikas! A tribute to the enthralling power of the ancient Indian Cultural heritage as expressed though dance, Yoga, drama and music. Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani Chairman : Yoganjali Natyalayam and ICYER Hon General Secretary, Pondicherry Yogasana Association 25, 2nd Cross,Iyyanar Nagar, Pondicherry, South India-605 013 Tel: +91-413 - 2622902 / +91-413 -3203314/+91-413 -2241561 Website: www.icyer.com www.geocities.com/yognat2001/ananda

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