Isha Meditators around the country gathered together in June to celebrate Utsav, a celebration of life – a joyful occasion for meditators, family members and friends to come together for an evening of music, meditation, and merriment. Each city also enjoyed a special performance by Radhe Jaggi, Sadhguru’s daughter, who performed the classical Indian dance Bharatanatyam. Radhe shares her experience of the month-long tour:
“I had the opportunity to perform at the Isha Utsavs that were being conducted in the USA in the month of June. The experience is one I will never forget. This was my first performance trip outside of India and also the first trip without live musicians to accompany me! This means that my teacher wasn’t going to be around to help me with little things like fixing my make up or moving things off the stage!
We started off in Chicago and travelled on to San Jose, Seattle, Atlanta, III and finally Detroit.
Performing for a mixed audience of people who are aware of the culture and the stories of Indian mythology and people who have never had any exposure, always presents a challenge. The pieces needed to be easy to understand without being simplistic.
Performing to recorded music made me nervous initially, but after the first performance it got easier. Having the choice I will always pick live musicians but there is undoubtedly, much less stress with recorded music!!
As always it is a wonderful experience to be around people who are part of Isha. Everywhere that I travelled I was included so easily into the families I was with. The audiences were always open-minded and inquisitive. It was new for me to sit with my audience after a performance and talk to them or answer any questions they had and have them suggest some wonderful new ways of looking at dance.
Same as Isha, Kalakshetra also has a very wide distributed extended family! Everywhere that I performed I met alumni who had started their own schools or were performing. With them also you feel included almost immediately!
It was a wonderful experience to perform and travel with Isha meditators.”
The Utsav in Atlanta took place at Roswell Cultural Arts Center, attended by over 200 meditators and non-meditators. Just before doors opened for registration, volunteers were asked to hold that feeling of Namaste, bowing on the inside to greet every visitor which would open a possibility for each guest of the evening. For one volunteer, this alone was a tremendous experience. “When I was able to greet visitors in this way, it was very powerful to see how it changed me inside and touched every person I met. This bowing within me cast my own self aside and became an opportunity for being a mother to all. I could see the change in the eyes of each person as they came in. We met in a space bigger than our individuality.”
After an introduction, Sounds of Isha played to the filled auditorium. Two classically trained Atlanta musicians joined residents from iii for the first time on stage. An introduction to Isha’s social outreach projects, and a video introducing Sadhguru and Cheryl Simone were presented on the large screen. Following, Cheryl was introduced to share her experiences of how Isha has touched her.
Another Atlanta volunteer describes her experience of Radhe’s dance, “As a viewer, the union of love for Sadhguru, Shiva, Devi, parental love, and the gratitude for the path out of the darkness of ignorance all converged in the beauty of her accomplished artistry onstage. Her humility, gratitude, and vulnerability immediately endeared the audience who gave a whole-hearted standing ovation at the conclusion.”
Across the country in the Bay area, a warm and colorful atmosphere was immediately created by volunteers as they arrived at the Almaden Community Center in San Jose. Even the hot weather didn’t deter the crowd – over 225 people attended the event. To ignite the evening, the local Sounds of Isha members played a mix of devotional and popular music culled from the SOI repertoire.
Later, Radhe’s graceful movements and beautiful expressions captivated the audience who watched in pindrop silence. Even the children were transfixed on her ability to become an outpouring of the music and ancient traditions.
The torch from Sevathon 2012, a local fundraising initiative, was also passed on to Isha Vidhya at the Utsav. Our guest, Radhe Jaggi lighted the torch, and shared her thoughts on Isha Vidhya as she urged everyone to participate in this cause, ‘I went to one of the best schools in India, but when I see how willing these kids are, it is extremely inspiring. The smile on their faces tells the whole story.’
Closing with dinner, building new friendships, and sharings of experiences with Isha – there was a sense of beginning rather than ending. This Utsav celebration provided a new opportunity to connect, be energized and to deepen the connection we all share.
For more information on Utsav, send a message to utsav@ishafoundation.org
I happened to be present at the Isha Yoga Centre, my maiden visit to the Ashram and also Radhe’s first program on stage – can we call it Arangetram ( I am not sure) at the Ashram. What a mind-blowing experience we all had – those who were present on that auspecious moment. Sadhguru was there seated amongst us and towards the end of the program, last but one song, it started pouring. The program was in open-air and the rain was pouring, as if Gods were blessing Radhe. We all rain-danced to the drum beats of SOI troupe. A never-to-be-forgotten experience in my life, my first visit to AShram. God Bless Radhe.