An Odisha Evening In The Divine Presence…
Thursday, July 5th, 2012
Continuing from where they had stopped in the morning, with their devotional exhibition touching the peak, devotees from the State of Odisha presented an encore of their morning cultural display at the Sanctum Sanctorum this evening in Prasanthi Nilayam.
Tribal Cultural Dance, Jodi Shanka Dance, was the first item, wherein tribal youth blew ‘twin-conch’, dancing to the tunes, enacting various scenes from Bharat’s rich cultural glory, from the epics. Scenes depicting Bhagawan Sri Krishna as the Eternal Charioteer, Lord Hanuman flying over, the Advent of Kalki Avatar on the horse etc., were displayed along with various other scenes to the rhythmic backdrop music emanated from the drums and cymbals.
The State that earned the rich inheritance of devotional chanting from none other than Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, epitome of devotion, fashions the same even today with tribals and other devotees in the state follow the style of ecstatic devotional chanting. Next to come was this display of Congregational Chanting of the Divine Name to the accompaniments of various instruments such as Dholak, Mrudangam, Ghanta and Kahali.
Sri Krishna Leela Madhuri, a dance ballet followed, presented by the students of Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Mandir, Bhadrak. The presentation was based on the writings of renowned devotional poet Banmali Das, who lived during the 12th century. As various scenes from the epochal life of the Avatar came to the fore to the accompaniment of soothing Oriya Melody, audience in the hall sat spellbound watching the spectacle as if got caught in a reverie.
Sai Symphony, a Musical Programme by the Youth from the State, both men and women, was the final item for the evening. Upon the presentation, groups of children and youth lined up for photograph session. Bhajans by the State troupe continued and ended with the Thursday Special, “Hey Shiva Shankara Namami Shankara…” in Bhagawan’s mellifluous voice.
Prasadam was distributed and Mangala Arathi was offered at 1850 hrs.
Earlier, before the commencement of the programme, Sri P. Jagannath Prasad Rao, State President of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations – Odisha, delivered a brief introductory speech. In his brief talk, the State President touched upon Bhagawan’s special love for the State, often expressed and exhibited in public. Echoing feelings of gratitude for Bhagawan’s “Love In Action”, rehabilitating thousands of homeless people from the State, aftermath of the floods that wreaked havoc in September 2008, Sri Rao echoed that Puri and Parthi are the same and so are Lord Jagannath and Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai.
II Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
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