Fantastic Friday

I really got to tell you what my awesome Friday was like. 

Friday saw me make my unsure way towards the hall, not knowing what to anticipate, for The Hindu November Fest, 2011 Abhang music concert by Aruna Sairam. Not having any idea about Abhang music, I had just expected an evening of devotional songs, especially after seeing the Kancheevaram clad, diamond nose-studded elderly ladies and austere looking men. 

                                                             image from here

As soon as the music started, I was mesmerised by the singer’s charisma and her group of absolutely fabulous musicians. She took us through the lyrical songs of 17^th century poet Sant Tukaram, Sant Namdev, and others. Sant is the title given to these singers who are associated with a Hindu religious movement known as the Varkari movement. They worship Krishna in the form of Vithoba and abstain from alcohol, smoking. They give more importance to oneness with God that surpasses social divisions and supersedes narrow religious ritualism. 

 

image courtesy

 

Aruna’s strong voice gave resonance to the depth of simple devotion in these ancient bhajans. The best thing about the concert was the palpable happiness on stage, as if each of these performers were indeed divinely inspired, sending strong reverberations into the audience as it sat rapt in attention, transported to a calm, happy and peaceful state. Music can surpass language and evoke in one a feeling of sheer delight. The wisdom in these songs just adds to their beauty. 

The lines of one the poems by Tukaram on equality go like this - 

All men to me are god-like Gods!
    My eyes no longer see vice or fault.

Life on this suffering earth
    is now endless delight;
    the heart at rest, full,
                        overflowing.

In the mirror, the face and its reflection --
    they watch each other;
    different, but one.

And, when the stream pours into the ocean...
    no more stream!