Arjuna Tapa and Sai African Choir…
Friday, November 20th, 2015
Every single heart is beating and thus, living every single beat. As the countdown for the 23rd day of November has come down to #2days today, SSSIO, Sri Sathya Sai International Organization, offered two scintillating presentations this Friday evening at the Divine Abode in Prasanthi Nilayam. A Balinese-Indonesian Dance Opera first was followed by a Sai African Choir by Nigeria.
Arjuna Tapa, a Mahabharata episode, as the title suggests was a depiction of Arjuna’s ordeals to win the Grace of Mahadev, Lord Shiva, and thus His mighty weapon Pasupatastra.
Much different from the native Indian style of mythological depictions, the Balinese-Indonesian presentation this evening followed the traditional Balinese style with music, dance, dialogue and facial expressions come to combine, presenting a most exhilarating session. Multimedia at the backdrop turned out to be an added attraction. Traditional musical instruments, Gamelan and the popular Singing Bowl were also in play, adding musical perfection to the forty-minute show.
The presentation begins with a traditional Kayon dance illustrating the alluring beauty of Indrakila Mountain, the venue of the epochal Mahabharata episode.
Surviving a testing time with a series of ‘fairies-onslaught’ at the instance of Lord Indra, only to test Arjuna’s forbearance, finally Arjuna had to endure a faceoff with Lord Shiva, Who came in the guise of Kirata. Having lost his battle with Kirata, a bewildered Arjuna learns a lesson in humility before winning the Pasupatastra from the Divine Hands, lesson for the modern Arjuna’s being to forego vanity, fighting against the inner foes, becoming worthy Sai instruments. The professional presentation was done by Team Art and Culture Bali-Indonesia.
From South East Asia to the African land of Nigeria… The final presentation for the evening was a Sai African Choir represented by Nigeria.
Formed in the year 2009, the Sai African Choir had its maiden offering in the same year during the Guru Purnima celebrations in the immediate Divine Presence, followed by another stint in 2012, during the 85th Birthday celebrations.
Presenting their 3rd in the series of offerings at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet this evening, a group of over 25 men and women sang for the next forty minutes presenting the incomparable beauty of African ‘Sai’ devotion.
Ably conducted by Dr Adebowale Adeogun, an accomplished musician, the Choir had a selection of 9 gems in Igbo, Yoruba and English, which were followed by two Sai bhajans.
In culmination, the troupe sang in chorus, wishing Bhagawan a “Happy Birthday”. The bliss in the collective heart was evident from the radiant faces of the Nigerian Sai children.
Bhajans continued and the session concluded with Mangala Arathi at 1840 hrs.
II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
Posted in Prasanthi News, Reports |
