Shrimad Valmiki Ramayana By Gudiya Sambhrama -The Temple Festival 2020 (January 25th to February 29th, 2020)
Ramayana is itihaasa which means (iti haa asa) – thus it was. It is a chronicle of the history of Bharata. It is a living legend inspiring people to emulate the Dharma embedded in it, and to seek peace from contemplating on Shri Rama.
It is to Sage Valmiki one turns, to see a vision of Shri Rama. In Sargam 35 of Sundarakandam, Sita asks Anjaneya to tell her about the identifying marks of Sri Raghava. Inspired by Valmiki, and indeed by Anjaneya’s description, Heritage Trust and Heritage Parampara are organizing Gudiya Sambhrama 2020 around the theme of Shrimad Valmiki Ramayana to recapture the description in form and thought of Shri Rama as told by his beloved devotee.
Sita asks of Anjaneya, “What are their attributes, how is their appearance,” to which Anjaneya replies, “He has the effulgence of the sun and in patience and in forgiveness is equal to Bhoodevi, in intellect He is as sharp as Brihaspati”. Gudiya Sambhrama will be bringing artists and scholars of repute from across India to Sri Varaprada Devagiri Devasthanam and other venues to invoke the essence of Shri Rama through Hari Kathas, dance, music, theatre, puppetry, visual arts and poetry.
In its 10th year, Gudiya Sambhrama brings weekend dance offerings or Sangita Nritya Kainkaryam in 15 temples across Bangalore on January 25th & 26th ,2020.
There will be three days of Parayanam by Shri Mukund and Group, Upanyasam by Sri Dushyanth Sridhaar, and Vedic chanting by Devagiri Bhattars between January 31st to February 2nd at Varaprada Sri Venkateshwara Devastana Devagiri, Banashankari.
To have more community involvement with a hope to introduce Ramayana to children, the festival has invited children’s groups to showcase themes from the Ramayana in music / dance titled Bala Kala Leela . Dhaatu Puppet theatre will feature its maiden show on Ramayana. There will be classical dance and music recitals through the festival. Art forms including Bharatanatyam by Rukmini Vijayakumar, Raadha Kalpa Dance Company, Parshwanath Upadhye, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, Kalaraipayattu, and Kathak. Each day there will be Ramayana quiz questions given, posters on ramayana will be displayed as also plants that appear in the Ramayana.
Ramayana in Art, Will take place on February 8th and 9th in the same temple venue. An exclusive exhibition of paintings, photographs, stamps, and sculptures. A separate gallery for amateurs to display photographs, art work and hand written poetry.
On the 13th and 14th February, Actor Prakash Belawadi and Yashodeep Deodhar will give talks in colleges on ‘The Relevance and Importance of the Ramayana today’. Sanskrit scholar Dr Shankar Rajaraman will speak about about Chitra Kavya in the Ramayana. Thaala Maddale a traditional art form will also be showcased during the festival, taking several dramatic scenes of the Ramayana.
The Heritage Drive, the coming together of Motorsport and culture will take place on February 29th. The drive will meander through verdant countryside, will include visits to a goshala, temples in Magadi and discussions on the Ramayana too.
Heritage and Heritage Parampara are non-profit organisations that have been conducting Gudiya Sambhrama: The Temple Festival for over a decade. The festival is conceptualized to nurture the deep connect our society has with both its cultural and natural heritage to create wellness in society. Sacred Spaces, Performing Arts, and Mother Nature are the life line and heritage of our community yet are rarely celebrated.
The festival is being organized by Heritage and Heritage Parampara, hosted by Sri Varaprada Devagiri Devasthanam Trust that has been running the temple for decades and supported by Indic Academy. Our gratitude to Parimal Mandir, PM Offset, Vigirom Pvt Ltd and Varnila Print & Design and a host of others who help with funding support each year.
To know more about Gudiya Sambhrama, click here.
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