Report of the 15th Year "Visesha Kala Poshakam Utsav" - 2021 Virtual

The “Mylapore Trio” Amarnath, Surendranath, Aparna & Sugathan (Kalakshetra Alumni and Cultural Ambassadors of Mylapore) and Members of Sri Sumukhi Rajasekharan Memorial Foundation conducted the 15th Year Spectacular “Visesha Kala Poshakam Utsav” - International Art Festival for Dance Virtually on our Fb Page. It was a 3-day Natya Utsav from 31st March to 2nd April 2021. The “Mylapore Trio” & Sugathan felt the need to expose the talents even in this pandemic situation, hence selected artists who had already performed in our Foundation were provided yet another opportunity. Six Dancers from India and abroad gave Solo Performances. The Natya Utsav was a confluence of various dance forms of India viz., Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam & Kathak, all under One Roof – a posse of colourful Flowers and Bouquets. 

On the First Day, the Virtual VKPU started with a Mohiniyattam performance by Kalamandalam Soumya from Kerala. Her subtle movements and abhinaya were attractive and enchanting. This was followed by a Bharatanatyam performance by Sharad Acharya from Karnataka (Alumnus of Kalakshetra) gave a stunning and flawless presentation. 

The second day started with a vibrant Kathak performance by Reshma Nagar from Surat with a Live Orchestra which was remarkable. Next was a dazzling Bharatanatyam presentation by Nidhi Sheshadri (Disciple of Vid. Praveen Kumar) from Bangalore. 

The third and final day of Virtual VKPU started with an energetic and vivacious Kuchipudi performance by Satya Sivani (Disciple of Bala Tripurasundari) from Hyderabad. The last performance was a bright and brilliant Bharatanatyam presentation by Resmi Sudha from Kerala (Alumnus of Kalakshetra). 

The three-day Virtual Festival was a grand success and applauded by numerous art lovers around the globe. The Mylapore Trio & Sugathan wished the Artists for their co-operation during this pandemic.

15th Year "Visesha Kala Poshakam Utsav" - Virtual

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Report of 26th Session of "Sumukhaiva Sadhas"

 The Mylapore Trio and Sugathan of Sri Sumukhi Rajasekharan memorial Foundation conducted the 26th Sumukhaiva Sadhas on 10th January 2021 through Zoom Meet and it was the 1st Sadhas of this calendar year. “Sakala Kala Valli” Smt. Revathy Sankaran gave a talk on “Margazhi Thingalum Thai Oru Thingalum”. she shared her childhood experiences of Margazhi bhajans, bhakthi, chillness and prasadams given at the temple. She also talked about the significance of Thai month and spoke about Andal and her lyrics connecting both the sacred months. 

Amarnath spoke on his childhood experiences during margazhi and Pongal. He remembered Suren’s beautiful and huge kolams drawn during Marazhi month in front of our house early morning, Boomboom maadus and decorated bulls during Maatu Pongal. 

Surendranath explained the significance of Uttarayanam and Dakshinayanam. He also said that only Podi kolama and Maa Kolam is our Tamizh Culture and not Rangoli. He said that he was taught kolams by Sumukhi Amma who encouraged him to draw kolam on the street very early in the morning in the biting cold. 

Aparna talked about neivedyams she prepared like Aarudra kali and kootu, Akkara vadisal. She was taught by Amma and Nagamma Paatti. She recollected how Sumukhi Amma used to take us to Temples during Vikunta Ekadasi and Aarudra Darshanam. 

Sugathan described how Maargazhi and Thai are observed in Kerala. He talked about Thiruvathirai kali dance and how women used to decorate themselves with mai to their eyes during margazhi month ….which was just the opposite way here in Tamil Nadu, as per the customs elaborated by Andal in her Thirupaavai’.

After the session, there was a discussion on the topic and all the members shared their views and childhood experiences with others. All members were in Traditional Attire with purple and cream colour shades as per the Foundation custom.

18th Foundation Anniversary & Commemoration of 15th Year "Kala Poshakam" - 2021 - Celebrating Virtually

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Memorable Moments-19th Year “Bala Vidhwan Bavani” 1st Jan. 2021

The Bala Vidwan Bavani of this year was organised in two different styles. The regular spiritual walk was conducted as usual early morning at 6am on 1st January 2021 by the Trio, Sugathan and few members only to continue the tradition and not to leave it on account of the pandemic situation. This was done at the insistence of Sugathan that the custom and convention must perpetuate and continue. Only a handful of people numbering 12 went around the small Maada Veedhis singing bhajans and namavalis for 1 hour. Not to miss Sivabala who has been consecutively attending BVB regularly past 18 years. This year’s Bavani gave us entirely a new experience without the participation of children and parents who would gather in large numbers during the last 18 years. 

The second style was a virtual meet organised by the Trio and Sugathan on zoom meet at 10am on 1st January 2021 to give an opportunity to children who have deprived the chance of early morning spiritual walk due to the current pandemic situation. Smt. Visalakshi Ramanan who had been participating all through the past 18 years with her students took part this year also virtually. Her students rendered many songs enthusiastically and actively involved themselves. Two of her old students who had been regular in our Bala Vidwan Bavani right from the very first year were present in this Virtual Bala Vidwan Bavani and sang a few songs, though they have become adults. It was very nice to see them after many years with their same participation spirit. This instance shows the impact of such an event that has got imbibed into the very young minds at that tender age. The Trio’s effort to inculcate spiritual and philosophical values has ignited the innocent minds – a success indeed.s Other children from the Foundation also rendered their part of songs and bhjans. The Trio and Sugathan presented pictorial reminiscences of the BVB in about 40 photos to the audience. It was very thrilling and exciting to see the evolution of the event and the people over these 2 decades. It was history revisited.

Report of "Indian Culture Congress" - 3rd Annual Conference (170th "Kala Poshakam")

The Mylapore Trio and Sugathan organised the Third year Indian Culture Congress as a Virtual Meet this year on 25th December 2020. The Mylapore Trio - Kalakshetra Alumni and Cultural Ambassadors presided over the Seminar and Versatile Personality Smt. Revathy Sankkaran was the Special Guest. Last two years it was conducted for Ph.D. research scholars, Professors and connoisseurs of art who presented their research papers. But this year higher class students gave a talk on Indian Culture which was very interesting and lively. Two girls and two boys from different schools were really enthusiastic in presenting their thoughts on their topics which included Margazhi in Tamil Culture, Greatness of India and Jainism – A way of life and Indian art and culture.

There was a question and answer session after the talk and the children were very eager to answer them. The seminar continued for 2 hours and it gave a new experience for the Trio to open up the intellectual gates to school students. As suggested by Sivabala it was a new venture this year and it gave a different experience. Ravibala, Sivabala and Vasanthi Balaji took initiative to introduce those students to the Foundation. On the whole, it was a memorable event to be cherished for long.

26th Session of "Sumukhaiva Sadhas" - A Virtual Cultural Meet

 26th Session of "Sumukhaiva Sadhas" - A Virtual Cultural Meet

Time: Jan 10, 2021 04:00 PM

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