February is the month to look out for at CNBG, and rightly so!
421 participants along with 35 volunteers enthusiastically gathered at Chinmaya Naada Bindu Gurukula (CNBG) for the 12th annual Naada Bindu Festival (NBF), from 10 to 12 February 2023. This was an event that everyone was looking forward to, post the pandemic, as it gave a happy respite from the many online events that were happening everywhere. CNBG is the Pune campus of Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University.
Session one began on 10th afternoon with ice-breaking with a difference. The participants were split into nine groups, and each group was given two lines of a bhajan to learn and sing at the inaugural session. This was a participative exercise giving an opportunity to all participants to bond well.
The inaugural session began with Poornakumbha being offered to Pujya Swami Tejomayananda, the lighting of the lamp, followed by this classic act of the nine groups singing the nine bhajans that were practised a few minutes earlier. Along with Pujya Swamiji, Dr. Sunitha Grandhee (Dean-Academics, CVV), Pt. Raghunandan Panshikar (renowned Vocalist from Pune) and Ms. Pramodini Rao (Head, School of Kalayoga) were present on the dais. Ms. Pramodini Rao welcomed everyone and listed out the numerous activities undertaken by CNBG in the past two years. A special mention was made of the work being done as part of the CSR activities and the continuous support received from M/s. Primetals. Next, the students of the School of Kalayoga sang the CVV Kulageetam. The book—RaagKavya— authored by Dr. Swapnil Chaphekar (Asst. Professor, School of Kalayoga) was launched at the hands of Pujya Swami Tejomayananda. This book has 111 bandishes written and composed by Dr. Chaphekar. Thereafter, Swamiji formally declared the 12th NBF open. This was followed by the vote of thanks by Ms. Shobha Iyer.
The opening musical session was by Dr. Swapnil Chaphekar, Shri Jayateerth Kulkarni and Dr. Atul Kamble, the three faculty from the School of Kalayoga, along with the MA Music students. This highlighted the constant engagement with students at the Gurukula, who also doubled up as volunteers.
The main sessions over the weekend were by renowned artists and faculty of CVV’s School of Kalayoga namely Pt. Raghunandan Panshikar—Hindustani vocal; Chi. Rahul Vella—Carnatic vocal; Pt. Uday Bhawalkar—Dhrupad; Dr. Mysore Manjunath and Pt. Rupak Kulkarni—violin and bansuri jugalbandi; Vid. Ramana Balachandhran— Veena and Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri—tabla solo. Each programme evoked a grand response from the audience.
There was a spiritual discourse by Pujya Guruji, wherein he elaborated the meaning of the words ‘Chinmaya Naada Bindu’ in great depth; an interesting art conversation with Vid. Ramana Balachandhran, the talented young Veena artist; release of one more book—‘Abbaji, the Multi-faceted Genius of Ustad Alla Rakha’, written by Dr. Atul Kamble (Asst. Professor, School of Kalayoga); a few interactive standing sessions with the participants conducted by volunteers and temple visits.
Participants also visited Chinmaya Jeevan Darshan (CJD), an exhibit showcasing the life, work and teachings of Pujya Swami Chinmayananda through murals, photos, quotations and multimedia, as well as Swanubhooti Vatika, a space designed to nourish the mind and soul.
Two days after the NBF, a fully equipped and functional recording studio, ‘Chinmaya Swarankan’, was inaugurated by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda and Padma Shree Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri, Tabla artist of the Lucknow Gharana, during which a Ganesha bhajan written and composed by Pujya Guruji was recorded with the legendary Pt. Swapanji accompanying him.
421 participants along with 35 volunteers enthusiastically gathered at Chinmaya Naada Bindu Gurukula (CNBG) for the 12th annual Naada Bindu Festival (NBF), from 10 to 12 February 2023. This was an event that everyone was looking forward to, post the pandemic, as it gave a happy respite from the many online events that were happening everywhere. CNBG is the Pune campus of Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University.
Session one began on 10th afternoon with ice-breaking with a difference. The participants were split into nine groups, and each group was given two lines of a bhajan to learn and sing at the inaugural session. This was a participative exercise giving an opportunity to all participants to bond well.
The inaugural session began with Poornakumbha being offered to Pujya Swami Tejomayananda, the lighting of the lamp, followed by this classic act of the nine groups singing the nine bhajans that were practised a few minutes earlier. Along with Pujya Swamiji, Dr. Sunitha Grandhee (Dean-Academics, CVV), Pt. Raghunandan Panshikar (renowned Vocalist from Pune) and Ms. Pramodini Rao (Head, School of Kalayoga) were present on the dais. Ms. Pramodini Rao welcomed everyone and listed out the numerous activities undertaken by CNBG in the past two years. A special mention was made of the work being done as part of the CSR activities and the continuous support received from M/s. Primetals. Next, the students of the School of Kalayoga sang the CVV Kulageetam. The book—RaagKavya— authored by Dr. Swapnil Chaphekar (Asst. Professor, School of Kalayoga) was launched at the hands of Pujya Swami Tejomayananda. This book has 111 bandishes written and composed by Dr. Chaphekar. Thereafter, Swamiji formally declared the 12th NBF open. This was followed by the vote of thanks by Ms. Shobha Iyer.
The opening musical session was by Dr. Swapnil Chaphekar, Shri Jayateerth Kulkarni and Dr. Atul Kamble, the three faculty from the School of Kalayoga, along with the MA Music students. This highlighted the constant engagement with students at the Gurukula, who also doubled up as volunteers.
The main sessions over the weekend were by renowned artists and faculty of CVV’s School of Kalayoga namely Pt. Raghunandan Panshikar—Hindustani vocal; Chi. Rahul Vella—Carnatic vocal; Pt. Uday Bhawalkar—Dhrupad; Dr. Mysore Manjunath and Pt. Rupak Kulkarni—violin and bansuri jugalbandi; Vid. Ramana Balachandhran— Veena and Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri—tabla solo. Each programme evoked a grand response from the audience.
There was a spiritual discourse by Pujya Guruji, wherein he elaborated the meaning of the words ‘Chinmaya Naada Bindu’ in great depth; an interesting art conversation with Vid. Ramana Balachandhran, the talented young Veena artist; release of one more book—‘Abbaji, the Multi-faceted Genius of Ustad Alla Rakha’, written by Dr. Atul Kamble (Asst. Professor, School of Kalayoga); a few interactive standing sessions with the participants conducted by volunteers and temple visits.
Participants also visited Chinmaya Jeevan Darshan (CJD), an exhibit showcasing the life, work and teachings of Pujya Swami Chinmayananda through murals, photos, quotations and multimedia, as well as Swanubhooti Vatika, a space designed to nourish the mind and soul.
Two days after the NBF, a fully equipped and functional recording studio, ‘Chinmaya Swarankan’, was inaugurated by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda and Padma Shree Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri, Tabla artist of the Lucknow Gharana, during which a Ganesha bhajan written and composed by Pujya Guruji was recorded with the legendary Pt. Swapanji accompanying him.