32 DK Musicians among 2000 performers at ‘AOL-Naadotsava’

by Alfie -Team Mangalorean

Veenas Galore! 32 DK Musicians among 2000 performers at AOL event ‘Naadotsava’

Mangaluru: The Queen of the string instruments – The Veena, reigned the Nation/ Karnataka State couple of days ago. In a spectacular initiative to mark the closing ceremony of the World Culture Festival (New Delhi, March 11th-13th), an estimated 2,000 Veena musicians showered grand musical notes at the Naadotsav program held at the Art of Living`s (AOL) International Centre in Bengaluru, during last weekend. The “World Cultural Festival: Naadotsav – 2000 Veenas” was an ensemble of 2000 Veenas from across the five southern states of India to continue the celebration of The Art of Living’s 35 years of service to humanity at Karnataka.

The sound of the Veena is known to positively help the cardiovascular system while promoting a sense of gratitude, compassion and sacrifice. This rare event was held in the presence of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar founder of the Art of Living, and a mammoth crowd of over 1.5 lakh people attended the event. Veena enthusiasts from India and around the world had marked their calendars to witness the event in all its glory. All the participating maestros and reputed artists were drawn from all over India, while most of them were from the five south Indian States of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Telangana.

Bengaluru got a taste of the musical extravaganza that enthralled millions at the World Culture Festival in New Delhi earlier this month with The Art of Living bringing together an ensemble of 2000 veenas in Bengaluru. The event also witnessed eminent dignitaries including, D. H Shankarmurthy, Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative council, Padmanabha Acharya-Governor of Nagaland, Ambassador of Lebanon- G Hassan Abdel Khalek, Maha Mandaleshwar of Junagadh Akhada and T Somashekar- MLA Yeshwantpur Constituency.

Reputed Veena exponents including Revathi Sadashivam, Anuradha Madhusudhan, Shanti Rao, and Vidwan R.K Padmanabha from Karnataka; Vidvan Puddukotai Krishnamurthygaru, Vidwan Ayyagari Syamasundaram, and Vidushi ‘Veena Paani’ Eemani Kalayani from Andhra Pradesh and Telengana; Uma Maheshwari, Karaikkudi Shanthi Mahesh and Ramani Dharamaraja from Tamil Nadu; and Professor S. Balambal from Kerala played at the event. The evening saw some very interesting instruments such as: the Mayura Veena, which can be totally dismantled and packed in a small box, and also a 175 year old Veena played by Lakshman Rao. The spectacular 2000 member veena performance had veena players as young as 10 years, going up to over 80 years.

Speaking to mangalorean.com, Dayanna, of Daya Arts-Mangaluru, (see him in the pics holding the art-work) who is a professional artist, and also a musician who took in this event said, ” Thirty-two musicians from Mangaluru, Udupi and Manipal traveled to Bengaluru to participate in Naadotsav. I personally donated three artworks depicting Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, to be auctioned and the funds raised to be used towards the cultural event expenses. We all had a memorable experience performing amidst 2000 veena players to a crowd of over a lakh. To have 2000 veenas playing together at a time like this is almost impossible, it is incredible that Gurudev has taken up such an incredible feat. We have been practising to play at the event since months. Such events bring in so much enthusiasm among artists and students. The concert has brought veena to the world.”

The World Culture Festival in Delhi earlier this month had performances from around the world by over 36,000 artistes including a symphony of 8500 musicians playing over 50 instruments. The Festival which was inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, was attended by over 172 leaders from around the world including Sherry Rehman, Member of Parliament, Pakistan; Katherine Clarke, Hon Congresswoman, House of Representatives, United States of America; Nirj Deva, Hon Member of the European Parliament, Jo Leinen, Hon member of the European Parliament and Tatyana Poronova, Hon Deputy Governor of Murmansk, Russia.

Soulful renditions by the 2,000 artists was one of the best evening`s under the stars. What more can one say when the Queen of the string instrument reigns? All her citizens, aficionado’s, subjects, well-wishers and ministers simply melt, tugged at their heartstrings. That was the beauty and grace of the Veena, performed by 2000 artists at the Naadotsav.

Also Read Related Article below :

75 Local Musicians among 33,000 performers at ‘World Culture Festival’- Delhi