By Gurunandan Balavantha Rao © February 2014
I had the opportunity to watch the “Gondhal” event held at Chennai today, 22nd February evening and sharing this experience. As shared earlier, and also as posted by our member Sri Rangaprakash Rao, Maharashtra Samaj, Chennai had organized this event. The event is a part of the 2 day celebration to commemorate its 25th year anniversary. On 22nd and 23rd Feb, Saturday and Sunday, various events have been organized and today evening was the Gondhal program. The venue was Adyar Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy Mantap, Chennai. Early in the morning, Avaahan of Devi Thulja Bhavaani was done. The evening started at 4 pm with Sankalpa. Various devotees who had offered to take part in Gondhal program did Sankalpa. Alankara of Devi was also on by that time. It was very nice to see Devi in all her Alankara, decorated with flowers, fruits, haldi and kumkum. The decoration had a clear touch of devotion and artistry as well. The Sankalpa Mantra was chanted very much in detail.
The Gondha event was scheduled to start at 6 pm. Till then, Sankalp was on from 4 to 6 pm and parallely, abhang and bhajan songs were being sung. It was nice to listen to the abhang and bhajan. Listening to classical music is an experience. Abhangs and bhajans, ably supported by tabla, harmonium is a unique experience by itself. Abhangs and bhajans were mostly on Lord Panduranga. The stage was well decorated with Lord Panduranga and Rukmini. Added to this were the pictures of Saint Thukaram, which is a usual practice at Maharashtra Samaj. After the Sankalpa was over, male members were asked to wear a “turban / topa” – very typical Maharashtrian style. The Gondhal troup members themselves helped those to wear the turban / topa. With male members in turban / topa, it was a very rare, different sight – something that those living in the southern part of Tamilnadu have been used to, atleast for the last few decades. Now it was time for the Gondhal program to start. A brief introduction was given and the event started. With drum beats and chants of “Anantha jhaalaa rae, Gondhala gala rae, Devichae Gondhala gala rae….”, it started from the entrance of the hall, proceeded upto the place where Devi was situated, went for a detailed pradakshina and namaskara and the event started. Our member Sri Rama Rao, who introduced himself a few days back was the one spearheading the Gondhala event with his other team members. It may be recalled that in December last week, Gondhala was performed at Kanchipuram Uttaradi Mutt and this was the very same team that was involved there also. The expertise, experience, involvement, dedication of the entire team was so nice that the atmosphere was so vibrant and energetic. The drum beats and the pace with which the drum is played is something so unique. We can proudly claim that all this is a very unique, rare art / custom / practice that is a part of our tradition. Amidst Gondhla, appropriate songs on Devi and Gondhala were sung by lady members dressed in typical our style. This group of bhajan members were different from the one who were singing bhajan and abhang till the start of Gondhala. As these songs on Gondhal were on, lady members from families who had opted for Sankalpa Seva were called and “Onti Bharivna” event took place for every member who had enrolled for this event. After this, the Gondhala continued for a short time and then it was time for conclusion. Lights that were arranged were lit (sugar cane slit into two, with cloth and oil at the edges), and male members who volunteered themselves were asked to carry this light. This went on for some time and finally, with Shanthi Mantra, the event was concluded. All lights were taken to the entrance and were put off by chanting Shanthi Mantra, followed by “gondhala jhaala ra, anantha jhaala rae ….”.
Following this was the Maha Arathi of Devi. Chants of “Sukh Karta Dukhharta Varta Vighnachi”, “Durgey Durghat Bhaari Tujvin Sansari” were on and Mangala Arathi was performed. The event concluded with chanting Rama Nama. All those who had assembled there were offered Devi’s kumkum and haldi Prasad, including a coin. It was very nice on the part of the Organisers and the Gondhal team for having co-ordinated and organized in a very structured manner, leaving behind a very divine atmosphere, with nothing but Rama Nama and Devi’s Nama vibrating all around. the program concluded at 9 pm. It was requested that all those who had come must have Prasad. Dinner was also arranged and the dishes were very tasty. Those who have visited this temple in Adyar, Chennai would know. The hall where this event was carried out is very big and quite often, various programs by renowned personalities and artists keep happening here. The hall was full today. It was very nice on the part of the concerned to have done a wonderful job in organizing this event. Our members Sri Ranga Prakash Rao and Sri Madhukkar are active in this organizing committee. I could meet both of them at the venue. For me, personally, I had a lot of satisfaction. In December last week, I had been to Kanchipuram for the same event, details of which were posted briefly that time. That time, I could not have Prasad, as I had to leave for Office. I was a bit disappointed that time. Within less than 2 months, the very same event has taken place and that too at a place just 1 kilometre from my house. Added to this is, I had the opportunity to have Prasad also. Nothing but Devi’s grace makes all this possible. I took leave, offering pranams to Devi and requesting her to make us come to Thuljapur very soon. It has been a long while since we went to Thuljapur.Thulja bhavani is our family deity.
Jai Sri Ram.
I had the opportunity to watch the “Gondhal” event held at Chennai today, 22nd February evening and sharing this experience. As shared earlier, and also as posted by our member Sri Rangaprakash Rao, Maharashtra Samaj, Chennai had organized this event. The event is a part of the 2 day celebration to commemorate its 25th year anniversary. On 22nd and 23rd Feb, Saturday and Sunday, various events have been organized and today evening was the Gondhal program. The venue was Adyar Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy Mantap, Chennai. Early in the morning, Avaahan of Devi Thulja Bhavaani was done. The evening started at 4 pm with Sankalpa. Various devotees who had offered to take part in Gondhal program did Sankalpa. Alankara of Devi was also on by that time. It was very nice to see Devi in all her Alankara, decorated with flowers, fruits, haldi and kumkum. The decoration had a clear touch of devotion and artistry as well. The Sankalpa Mantra was chanted very much in detail.
The Gondha event was scheduled to start at 6 pm. Till then, Sankalp was on from 4 to 6 pm and parallely, abhang and bhajan songs were being sung. It was nice to listen to the abhang and bhajan. Listening to classical music is an experience. Abhangs and bhajans, ably supported by tabla, harmonium is a unique experience by itself. Abhangs and bhajans were mostly on Lord Panduranga. The stage was well decorated with Lord Panduranga and Rukmini. Added to this were the pictures of Saint Thukaram, which is a usual practice at Maharashtra Samaj. After the Sankalpa was over, male members were asked to wear a “turban / topa” – very typical Maharashtrian style. The Gondhal troup members themselves helped those to wear the turban / topa. With male members in turban / topa, it was a very rare, different sight – something that those living in the southern part of Tamilnadu have been used to, atleast for the last few decades. Now it was time for the Gondhal program to start. A brief introduction was given and the event started. With drum beats and chants of “Anantha jhaalaa rae, Gondhala gala rae, Devichae Gondhala gala rae….”, it started from the entrance of the hall, proceeded upto the place where Devi was situated, went for a detailed pradakshina and namaskara and the event started. Our member Sri Rama Rao, who introduced himself a few days back was the one spearheading the Gondhala event with his other team members. It may be recalled that in December last week, Gondhala was performed at Kanchipuram Uttaradi Mutt and this was the very same team that was involved there also. The expertise, experience, involvement, dedication of the entire team was so nice that the atmosphere was so vibrant and energetic. The drum beats and the pace with which the drum is played is something so unique. We can proudly claim that all this is a very unique, rare art / custom / practice that is a part of our tradition. Amidst Gondhla, appropriate songs on Devi and Gondhala were sung by lady members dressed in typical our style. This group of bhajan members were different from the one who were singing bhajan and abhang till the start of Gondhala. As these songs on Gondhal were on, lady members from families who had opted for Sankalpa Seva were called and “Onti Bharivna” event took place for every member who had enrolled for this event. After this, the Gondhala continued for a short time and then it was time for conclusion. Lights that were arranged were lit (sugar cane slit into two, with cloth and oil at the edges), and male members who volunteered themselves were asked to carry this light. This went on for some time and finally, with Shanthi Mantra, the event was concluded. All lights were taken to the entrance and were put off by chanting Shanthi Mantra, followed by “gondhala jhaala ra, anantha jhaala rae ….”.
Following this was the Maha Arathi of Devi. Chants of “Sukh Karta Dukhharta Varta Vighnachi”, “Durgey Durghat Bhaari Tujvin Sansari” were on and Mangala Arathi was performed. The event concluded with chanting Rama Nama. All those who had assembled there were offered Devi’s kumkum and haldi Prasad, including a coin. It was very nice on the part of the Organisers and the Gondhal team for having co-ordinated and organized in a very structured manner, leaving behind a very divine atmosphere, with nothing but Rama Nama and Devi’s Nama vibrating all around. the program concluded at 9 pm. It was requested that all those who had come must have Prasad. Dinner was also arranged and the dishes were very tasty. Those who have visited this temple in Adyar, Chennai would know. The hall where this event was carried out is very big and quite often, various programs by renowned personalities and artists keep happening here. The hall was full today. It was very nice on the part of the concerned to have done a wonderful job in organizing this event. Our members Sri Ranga Prakash Rao and Sri Madhukkar are active in this organizing committee. I could meet both of them at the venue. For me, personally, I had a lot of satisfaction. In December last week, I had been to Kanchipuram for the same event, details of which were posted briefly that time. That time, I could not have Prasad, as I had to leave for Office. I was a bit disappointed that time. Within less than 2 months, the very same event has taken place and that too at a place just 1 kilometre from my house. Added to this is, I had the opportunity to have Prasad also. Nothing but Devi’s grace makes all this possible. I took leave, offering pranams to Devi and requesting her to make us come to Thuljapur very soon. It has been a long while since we went to Thuljapur.Thulja bhavani is our family deity.
Jai Sri Ram.