Source

WAPPINGERS FALLS,NEW YORK, April 11, 2005: Singers and musicians converged on the Hindu Samaj temple Sunday to celebrate the songs of one of India’s greatest composers. The performance was the second annual Tyagaraja Aradhana Festival, held in honor of Sri Tyagaraja, a composer born in the late 1700s who wrote thousands of devotional songs. For many members of the Hindu Samaj temple, the festival was about reconnecting with their roots. Performers, some as young as 6, were born in the U.S. and use the music as a means to familiarize themselves with their heritage. “I feel a connection to my culture,” said Laya Rajan, 12, who performed a short devotional called a kriti. “It’s uplifting.”



Meena Malladi of Danbury, Conn., performed a composition called “Pancharatna” kriti, which translates literally as “Five Gems.” It was written by Tyagaraja in the 18th century and its performance remains unaltered since then, Malladi said. “These are such great songs in their meaning and their music that they’ve been passed down for generations, and we still sing them in the same say,” she said. Some 250 people attended Sunday’s festival. Organizer Uma Satyendra said the yearly event fosters creative growth and encourages local talent, creating what she called “positive competition.” Similar festivals are held elsewhere, but members of the Hindu Samaj temple saw a need for a local festival because of the growing Hindu community in Dutchess County.

Post Views: 661