Hyderabad Parthi Yatra Feb 2012

Over 1200 Youth and Children from Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, Sivam, Hyderabad made a spiritual pilgrimage to Sri Sathya Sai Divya Sannidhi, Prasanthi Nilayam. The delegates participated in the various Mandir activities and satsangs. The youth also organised a workshop on Sai Seva Projects in the region. A bouquet of various cultural presentations by the group lit up the evening sessions in Sai Kulwant hall on 18th and 19th Feb 2012.

The evening programme on 18th Feb started with an hour of devotional singing entitled “Sri Sathya Sai Naadha Neerajanam” by the Sivam Bhajan Group. Starting the concert with the number Dosita Gulabi Poovula Tho,  they sung various songs on the themes of surrender, service, love and devotion before concluding with Oyi Rama Sai Rama. The highlight of the presentation were the wonderful aalaps which preceded each song. The singers included Alumni of Bhagawan’s University along with many active youth members of Sivam.

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This was followed by a dance presentation by students of Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar – Hyderabad representing the various Indian Folk Dances. The students started the presentation with Ganapathi Vandana. The first folk dance depicted was the Chekka Bhajana of Andhra Pradesh, a traditional dance form to the beat of wooden cymbals and vigorous leg movements. This was followed by the Garbha, a ceremonial dance of Gujarat performed during Navaratri.

The next presentation was Kalbelia, a popular dance of the nomadic community of Rajasthan which included acrobatic feats like balancing on small metal vases, a bed of nails and the edges of swords. The Cheraw Dance ,a combination of rhythm and skill, made famous by the Mizoram followed. They concluded the programme with a Peacock Dance, honouring the national bird of India.

The pilgrims concluded the day with a Pallaki Seva from the Old Mandir of Bhagawan at 1930hrs.

 

The second day of the Hyderabad youth Parthi yatra witnessed a classical carnatic vocal concert by Dr. Panthula Rama, popular as ‘Nightingale of Andhra’. A prodigy who gave her maiden concert at the age of 8, Dr. Rama has many awards and recognitions of repute. She holds a Ph.D in music from Andhra University and has authored the book: ‘Shaping of an ideal Carnatic Musician through Sadhana’.

She was accompanied by Sri M.S.N. Murthy on Violin and Sri Nemani Somayajulu on Mridangam. Starting her concert with Siva Siva Siva Enaraya and Bhaja Re Manasa, she went on sing many popular numbers including Navaneetha Chora Devaki Vasudeva Nandana and Leela Nataka Sai.

A Dance Ballet by students of Balvikas, Hyderabad entitled ‘Shivanandalahari’ followed. The children began the dance ballet with an invocation to Lord Ganesha. The scene then shifts to Lord Shiva being worshiped by Nandi and other divine forces in Mount Kailasa. Lord Shiva gradually sets into a mood of deep meditation after performing the spectacular Thaandavam (the dance of Shiva).

Even as Parvathi arrives to offer prayers to the Lord, Kamadeva (cupid) strikes an arrow at Shiva. Angered Shiva opens His third eye and reduces him to ashes. However on the interceding of Parvathi, Shiva brings him back to life. The scene ends with auspicious wedding of Shiva and Parvathi.

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The next scene shows the churning of the ocean of Devas and Asuras for the extraction of Amruta (Elixir of Eternal Life). However the Elixir is preceded by the poison haalahalam. Lord Shiva rescues the beings by drinking the poison Himself. Mother Parvathi keeps a finger on His throat to stop the poison and thus He is praised with the name ‘Neelakanta’, the one with the blue throat.

The next sequence depicts the binding of the irrepressible force of the River Ganges in the Knots of the plaits of Shiva to allow the continuos and controlled flow of the river onto the earth earning him the sobriquet ‘Gangaadhara’. The final sequence depicts the story of the birth of Ganesha and the Darshan of the Divine Family of Shiva.

All participants were much appreciated and presented with clothes.