Ganesh is the god of money, of fortune, of the world’s wealth               -The Mother

On the auspicious occasion of Vinayak Chaturthi, AuroBharati, Sri Aurobindo Society organized  “Ganesha Vandana” followed by a Vedic Ritual at Matriniketan- Global Centre for Integral Yoga and Indian Culture on 31st August 2022. Lord Ganesha is the remover of obstacles and is worshipped before any auspicious work. During the celebration, Lord Ganesha was worshiped with Shodashaopachara puja, sixteen rituals along with a havana consisting Vedic and Puranic Mantras.

On this occasion, AuroBharati organized a workshop on Appreciation of Indian Classical Music facilitated by Radhika Joshi Ray, Indian Classical Vocalist of the Jaipur Atrauli Gharana. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Kishor Kumar Tripathy, Member Secretary, AuroBharati, Sri Aurobindo Society said about the origin and evolution of Indian Classical Music which started from the Vedas. Further this indigenous knowledge system flourished through the textual tradition of India including Sangitaratnakar, Dattilam and Brihadeshi etc. Further, he informed about the various activities undertaken by AuroBharati to explore the cultural heritage of India.

Dr. Radhika Joshi Ray interacted with the participants indicating various aspects of Indian Classical Music, especially North Indian Classical Music. The session was a beginner’s guide to understanding the basics of North Indian Classical Music, from a listener’s perspective. Although music is a universal language that connects us all, understanding the intricacies of any form of music enables us to appreciate and enjoy it even more. Over the course of the workshop, she explained the various stages of a recital, and a performer’s approach to each step. The Second session was on a mimic recital where she presented all the various aspects that she explained in the workshop.

Dr. Joshi holds a Ph.D in Economics from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore and a Master’s Degree in Economics from Tufts University, Boston. In addition to her pursuits as a performing artist, she is a dedicated teacher and researcher of Indian Music. She is also the founder of Jaipur Gunjnkhana, an archive that strives to document the music of the Jaipur Atrauli Gharana.