NEWS / ANNOUNCEMENTS
This section features info on events /
workshops organised by various insitutions.
indian-heritage.org has featured the information as received
from the concerned organisation / individual
Please contact them directly for further information
2009
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Perch, Chennai
presented
Moonshine
and Skytoffee on Nov 21, 2009, 7.15pm
Sangathi
Arinhya! (Have your heard) on Nov 22, 2009, 7.15pm
Two plays
in English based on stories by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, Directed by Rajiv
Krishnan
Venue: Koothambalam
Auditorium, Kalakshetra, Besant Nagar, Chennai
Kutti Karanam
A Nalamdama
- Aseema fun fund raiser
Brochure |
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19th SRI SATHYA
SAI Sangeetholsavam 2009
18TH NOVEMBER
TO 23RD NovembeR 2009
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Prathyogitha
competition was conducted at Blue Bell, PA on August 22nd, 2009, sponsored
by Shruthilayam Academy.
Details |
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Tamil Heritage
Group - Chennai
Classical
Arts and Human Heritage by V. P. Dhananjayan
on 3rd October
(Saturday) 2009 at 05.30 pm at Thakkar Bapa Vidyalaya Campus
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Srivari Annual Brahmotsavam from
21-09-2009 to 29-09-2009
Tirumala
Brahmotsavam is an annual Hindu festival celebrated for nine days in the
months of September and October at the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. The
celebration attracts pilgrims and tourists from all parts of the country.
The Brahmotsavam
festival is one of the most important and auspicious functions in Tirupati.
Popular stories trace the origin of this celebration to Brahma, the creator
God, who first conducted this festival to Sri Balaji at Tirupati. Brahma
worshiped Sri Balaji on the banks of the holy Pushkarini in Tirupati as
a way to give thanks for the Lord’s protection of mankind. Hence, this
utsava bears his name as "Brahmotsavam," which means "Brahma's Utsavam."
In Tirumala, Brahmotsavam is celebrated in the month of October.
The Brahmotsava
is performed over a nine-day period. On the evening prior to the start
of the first day, the rite of “Ankurarpana” (sowing of the seeds to signify
fertility, prosperity and abundance) is performed along with a festival
for Sri Vishvaksena (the leader of Narayana’s retinue who removes obstacles
and protects worship).On the first day, the main activity is the “Dhvajarohana,”
the hoisting of the Garuda flag at the Dhvajastambham. This signifies the
commencement of the Brahmotsava. It is believed that Garuda goes to Devalokam
and invites the Devas to attend the function. During the nine days of the
festival, the religious activities include daily homas and processions
for the utsava murti on different vahanas, which are the chariots that
can be seen in the Temple.
Every evening, the utsava vigrahas are decorated
with different alankarams. The concluding day is the Janma Nakshatra (birth
star) of Sri Balaji, which is celebrated in a grand way with Avabhritha
Utsava (special abhishekams for the utsava murti). In Tirupati, the Sudarsana
Chakra is bathed in the Pushkarini and all the devotees bathe afterwards.
In Aurora, a priest takes the Sudarsana Chakra on his head and takes a
holy bath near the Dhvajastambham. Afterwards, the Chakra is placed on
a high platform, so the devotees can walk under it and be blessed with
the water dripping down from Sudarsana. The celebration officially concludes
with “Dhvajavarohanam,” the lowering of the Garuda flag. The priests pay
respects to Gods and Sages with the chanting of Vedic mantras and see them
off on their return to the Devaloka.
The Brahmotsavam
celebration provides a unique opportunity for all devotees to participate
in the festivities and utsavas and experience the “Vaikuntha Anubhava”
(heavenly enjoyment and feeling) and receive the blessings of Sri Venkateswara
Swami. Every year, millions of devotees witness the processions,celebrations
during the annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala. Every
day of Brahmotsavam will be a feast for the eyes of the devotees who gather
there.
On the first day the Garudadhwaja (flag with the emblem of a black
garuda) is hoisted near the Srivari Alaya Dhwajasthambham. A festive procession
of Lord Venkateswara on the Pedda Seshavahana proceeds around the four
streets of the main temple for two hours until midnight.Ankurarpana and
Senadhipati Utsavam are celebrated on the day preceding the first day of
Brahmotsavam.
Some interesting
observations during brahmotsavas are: As incredibly as the swan which separates
the water content from milk, the reigning deity of the seven hills too,
on Hamsavahan, relegates the paap and blesses the bhakta based on his punya.
As the powerful snake transforms itself as a vehicle for the Lord during
the Seshavahan and Chota Seshavahan in the Brahmotsavam celebrations, the
essence of the Sharanagati Tatva explains the moral behind this utsav.
The initial prayers offered at the Dwajarohan utsav and Garudotsav is to
pray for an unscathed living with high moral values, while Garuda, requested
by the Lord himself to stay in the hills, guards the skies from anything
untoward coming by.
Source: tirumala.org/ |
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Akshaya's
Helping in H.E.L.P. Trust
Akshaya takes
care of helpless, mentally ill/very old men and women deserted in the streets
of Madurai.
"I don't
feed beggars. They can look after themselves. The mentally ill won't ask
anyone for food or money," says N Krishnan who has been feeding them
thrice a day for the past seven years.
akshayatrust.org/ |
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Tamil Heritage
Group - Chennai (Programme
for the month of September)
an illustrated
talk titled Traditional Performing Arts
in Education by V. R. Devika of Aseema
Trust
on 5th September
(Saturday) 2009 at 05.30 pm at Thakkar Bapa Vidyalaya Campus
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25th
Konark Dance and Music Festival 2010
Konark Dance
and Music Festival started in the year 1986 at Konark Natya Mandap, Arka
Vihar, Konark by its Founder-Director Padmashree Guru Gangadhar Pradhan.
In true sense it can be called the harbinger in the contemporary festivals
of Orissa. The sole aim behind this festival is to embrace many artistes
into its cultural family which aims at the international cultural amity
and brotherhood.
This festival
has established its own identity in the sense that eminent artistes of
national and international repute participate and perform Odissi, Kathak,
Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniattam and other classical, folk
and tribal dances of our country on an enchanting stage conjuring visions
of the Natya Shala of the monumental Sun Temple, Konark, coming alive.
The stage as well as the atmosphere are further magnified by the natural
ambience of casuarina and cashew trees with spiritual and aesthetic flavour.
This festival is held from 19th to 23rd February every year.
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Understanding,
living, preserving Hinduism
The first
Hindu Dharma Sabha (Hinduism Meet) in North America was held by the Forum
for Hindu Awakening (FHA) on Ashadh Krushna Ekadashi 5111 (18 July 2009)
at Durga Temple of Virginia, near Washington DC.
To learn more
and for updates, visit ForumForHinduAwakening.org
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Purva
School of Bharatanatyam Baroda celebrated World Environment day on June
5th 2009 with the 34th presentation of classical dance ballet - 'Prakruti
Varnan'.
This ballet
is in Bharatanatyam form, based on the theme of evolution of earth from
the sun and life on earth thereafter. It is choreographed by Guru Sharad
Pandya and has been staged at various festivals in India as well as in
Mauritius and Pakistan. Other performances of the evening included Odissi
by Manasi Pandya, Baroda and Bharatanatyam by Raghunandan, Bangalore.
e-mail: manasipandya@gmail.com |
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5th Pillar
An organisation that strives to
get remedy for citizens particularly the common man by use of the Right
to Information Act and fight corruption at all levels.
A monthly magazine on Anti-Corruption
issues, for private circulation only for 3 months called "MAATTRAM" (Tamil)
was launched on 9th May 2009, 5.30 pm at Kamaraj hall, Anna Salai, Teynampet,
Chennai. Starting 15th August 2009, both "MAATTRAM" (in Tamil) and "CHANGE"
(in English) will be distributed through stands and can be subscribed.
Contact:
Vijay Anand
President- 5th Pillar
Cell : 98406 18948
Off: 044 65273056
Fax: 044 42133677
E-mail: vijay@5thpillar.org
5thpillar.org |
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PVD Academy
of Acting and Dance, established by Shri Vile Parle Kelvani
Mandal (parent trust of NMIMS University) has been providing training in
the field of Acting and Dance since its inception in 1988 at Vile Parle
(W).
Admissions open to courses in
Kathak and acting
PVD Academy of Acting and Dance,
which is being managed by Shri Vile Parle Kelvani Mandal, is now set to
offer Diploma Programs in Kathak in addition to its certificate course
in acting.
Kathak classes will be held twice
in a week (Sat-Sun) in the evening. Tina Tambe, senior disciple of famous
exponent and guru Uma Dogra, will teach the theory and practical lessons
of Kathak (Jaipur Gharana Style) to the participants. Tina has an experience
of more than 20 years in performing and teaching Kathak. She has performed
at many prestigious dance festivals across the country.
SVKM’s PVD Academy of Acting and
Dance
GPP High School, Dadabhai Road,
Near Shan Fly-over,
Vile Parle (W), Mumbai-56
PH: 93205 33334 / 9870078121
Ashish Tambe: 93205 33335
E-mail: pro.nmims@gmail.com |
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Art Show
- Soul Searching
Oil Paintings
by Dharshana Bajaj
Venue: Lalit Kala Akademi,
Chennai, One Man Show Gallery, 170, Greams Road, Chennai 600006
Date: 7th -12th April, 2009
Time: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Ph: 098400 34498
Chennai based artist Dharshana Bajaj's
latest series of oil paintings is centered around the quest for the Buddha,
or the Truth within. The artist believes that at some level we're all aware
that the ultimate goal of life is traversing spiritual realms and journeying
within to identify with the Truth. "Our cravings may lead us away from
this goal for a while," she says, "but eventually we all get there."
Periods of soul searching are inevitable
in every person's life. As the Buddha himself is noted to have said, "No
one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must
walk the path."
The artist's journey within has resulted
in this collection of paintings. Treading between figurative and abstract
art, Dharshana has experimented with form, depth, colour, and proportion
to create works that inspire the viewer to look within, too.
Click
here to view the paintings |
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Photo
Exhibition of Indian Classical Dance forms
by
Dr. Susil Pani, Sri Geetagovinda Pratisthana, Puducherry
7th - 30th March, 2009
at the art gallery of Dhakshinchitra
e-mail: raghuclinic@yahoo.com |
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24th
Konark Dance and Music Festival - 2009
19th to 21st February 2009
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Padma Awards, the country’s highest
civilian awards, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan,
Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The awards are given in all disciplines/
fields of activities, viz. art, social work, public affairs, science and
engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports,
civil service, etc. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished
service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma
Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced
on the occasion of Republic Day every year.
The awards are conferred by the
President of India at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan sometime around
March/ April.
Padma
Awards 2009
Press note released by Ministry
of Home Affairs, Government of India
Padma
Awards (1954-2009)
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