Mon, Nov 15, 2010 85th Birthday News & Photos - Festival of Divine Love:
Echoing Music Divine, Festival of Divine Love, Nine-day long festival celebrating the 85th Year of the Advent of the Lord in physical got off to a sublime beginning in Prasanthi Nilayam this evening.
Setting a perfect background for the "Festival of Divine Love", Prasanthi experienced evening rains, an auspicious sign as is believed, for any fresh venture. With the dark clouds coupled with rains forcing an early sunset, the Divine Assembly in Sai Kulwant Hall shone brilliantly under the lights anticipating the Divine entry. Adding charm to the glare, the dais was bedecked with floral costumes. Enhancing the audio facility, in view of the week-long festivity, special speakers were installed at proper locations and facilitating closer view, two LED display, on both gents' and ladies' side, along with number of closed circuit tv sets were also set in place.
| |  | | | | Source & credits: copyrights-Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust,sssbpt.org
Picture graphic layout - Saibabaofindia.com "SBOI" |
Emerging at the twilight hour, at 1845 hrs., His twenty minutes' round of darshan found the magnanimity of the Lord coming to the fore as Bhagawan negotiated the round most patiently, attending to many on the ladies' side, the primary girls, italian cake makers before coming on to the verandah where He had the artistes for the evening as well as many an organisational office bearer seeking blessing.
Coming on stage at 1905 hrs., the stage was ready for the session to begin. An announcement on the programme was made introducing the artistes for the evening with brief description. Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, the Sarod Maestro of fame along with son Aayan Ali Khan and Aman Ali Khan were to perform that was followed by Abhishek Raghuram, a child prodigy and grandson of legendary Mridagam Artiste, Palghat Raghu, on Carnatic Vocal.
| |  | | | | Source & credits: copyrights-Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust,sssbpt.org
Picture graphic layout - Saibabaofindia.com "SBOI" |
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan began his concert with a solo, a composition of Saint Puranadaradasa set to Raga Sivaranjini. He announced that he was inspired by the same rendering by legendary ML Vasanta Kumari, Carnatic Vocalist of yester years, and thus relish to sing the same in the Divine presence. Beginning the second piece with an introduction to his sons, the maestro on Sarod along with his sons produced a magical spell of instrumental music that lasted for more than twenty minutes, well received by the audience with rapturous applause.
Music is Divine and when legendary musicians rocks the stage with music's sublime touch at the highest platform, it not alone entices the onlooking mortal audience, but the first and foremost recipient of the offering is the Master Musician, the Immortal Divine Himself. With serene musical notes emanating from the blessed Sarod producing subtle waves, often raising and rising, slowing down, pausing, harmoniously blending with accompanying tabla, the session turned out to be a scintillating jugalbandhi, a perfect start for the Festival of Divine Love.
| |  | | | | Source & credits: copyrights-Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust,sssbpt.org
Picture graphic layout - Saibabaofindia.com "SBOI" | Bhagawan blessed the artistes by draping shawl over them while giving away other presents.
From the world of Instrumental into the world fo Carnatic Vocal. The second programme for the evening was by Abhishek Raghuram, an upcoming Carnatic Vocalist who began with a Thyagaraja composition "Nee Dayarada" set to Shrutibhairavi on Rupaka Talam. Perfectly harmonising with the accompanying mridagam and violin, the solo lasted for fifteen minutes. One more piece followed before he wound up to receive special blessings from the Divine Hands. The singer was completely engrossed in his devotional rendering and one could read his devotion to the dedicated profession, who spellbound the audience with his mesmerising rendering. | |  | | | | Source & credits: copyrights-Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust,sssbpt.org
Picture graphic layout - Saibabaofindia.com "SBOI" | The blessed artiste earned his moment when Bhagawan blessed him with a golden chain. Accompanists on mridagam and violin were also blessed before Bhagawan called for Mangala Arathi at 2040 hrs. With Arathi was prasadam distribution went on and upon accepting Arathi Bhagawan left the dais and as He moved past, artistes got another round of blessing. Bhagawan glided into the ladies' end at 2028 hrs. retiring for the day. |
Darshan Update & Photos 
