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Archives from 2004

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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dancejathre 2009- India's first dance fair at Bangalore
narthaki.com/...

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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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Exhibition of Oil Paintings by Madhukar Mahajan

9th - 22nd March, 2009


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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)