BHAKTI SANGIT UTSAV
Show of Unity
Sharma Bandhu ( India ) performed their concert showing how cultural similarities bind Nepal-India relations
By A CORRESPONDENT
After years of violence and devastations, lord Pashupatinath, the god of destruction and creation, must have finally found time to heave a sigh of relief when a renowned Indian musical group performed their religious musical festival at Kailash, just above Pashupatinath Temple .
Renowned musicians, Sharma Bandhu from India won the hearts and minds of people when they sang their popular devotional songs sending a thrilling wave of eternal feeling to the listeners of Bhakti Sangit Utsav.
When Sharma Bandhus started their performance praising lord Shiva, Rama and all other gods, the sound rejuvenated people inside the stage - as the musical program provided listeners with relief as well as salvation. Performed at Kailash, regarded as an abode of lord Shiva, the musical program brought about a sense of calm in Pashupati area.
"It was amazing. The songs were so powerful that I was completely lost in the devotional music. Had Shivaji been around the Kailash, he would have felt similar experience," said Jagnath Shrestha, a resident of Jayabageswori. "Their songs were so sweet and so touching, every body enjoyed it."
When Sharma Bandhu chanted Jai Shree Ram, or Jai Shiva, the crowd followed them. One of the major attractions of Sharma Bandhu was the combination of music, devotional songs and words.
From timing to place, the devotional musical festival was very appropriate as it was the second day after full moon when Pashupatinath temple performed one of its important rituals. For devotees, the Saturday of month of Magha itself was a good day to visit the temple of Pashupati and the musical program was additional advantage. As the entrance was free, many devotees saw this as a great opportunity.
Whether it is Ganesh Stuti or song dedicated to lord Rama and lord Shiva, the devotional songs were familiar for a large number of Hindus as well as other communities in Nepal . Nepal which is known as a land of pilgrimage consists of all important temples. From glacier lake of Gosaikund to Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu and Janaki temple in Janakpur to Muktinath in Mustang, there are important pilgrim sites in the country.
For Hindus of Nepal and India , they are well known as both the countries have similar foundation of their religion and culture. From religion to culture and religious epics, people of both the countries have many commonalities. For many Hindus in India , lord Pashupatinath symbolizes one of the important pilgrimages. Similarly, most devout Hindus consider visiting Kashi (Varanashi) will open the gate of heaven for their ancestors.
Participating in the Bhakti Sangeet Utsav, Sharma Bandhus, Gopal Sharma, Sukhadev Sharma, Kailash Sharma and Raghvendra Sharma and Nepalese musicians Gurdev Kamat, Batuk Raj Mishra, Narendra Pyashi and Iswor Amatya showed religious commonalities of both the countries.
Political relations may have many ups and downs but the cultural and religious relations are eternal as they maintain similar course. This is one of the major strength of Nepal and India relations. It flourishes from official to people to people level. By or ganizing the program at Kailash, Indian Embassy and B.P. Koirala India Nepal Foundation also indicated the same thing.
For quite a long time, the Pashupati Area has hardly seen any devotional musical concerts. Sharma Bandhus and Nepali musicians showed that though they speak different language but their devotional flavor is same. Language, geography and other man made boundaries cannot limit the devotional and religious songs.
Inaugurated jointly by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Pradeep Gyawali and Indian ambassador Shiva Shanker Mukherjee, the program lasted for whole day on Saturday where Satya Raj Acharya and Swaroop Raj Acharya, sons of Bhakta Raj Acharya also performed their songs.
"This is the first time that B.P. Koirala India Nepal Foundation and the Indian Embassy have come up with a devotional event which has artistes from both the countries performing on the same stage. As Magh is considered a very important month religiously and the songs are of Hindu devotion, we decided to have it on this auspicious month," said Gopal Bagley, counselor of the Indian Embassy. Stage managed by Kaalbhairav, the Bhakti Sangeet Utsav won the hearts and minds of people.
