Flickering lights in the distance, aesthetically striking decorations, a peaceful ambience despite the multitude of people and rousing dance and music — Shivrathri at the Isha Yoga Center has always meant this. This year, the 21st year of the celebrations, was no different.
The night of awakening began with soul-stirring music by Sounds of Isha, before Sufi singer Ustad Maa Zila Khan ascended the stage. She began with the famous Amir Khusro number, ‘Chhaap Tilak Sab Chheeni’. “With just a glance, you’ve taken away my looks, my identity…” go the lyrics of this qawwali. From the spiritual depths of this song, she quickly made a transition to the pulsating ‘Piya Re… Maara Jiya Rey’ and ‘Naina Thag Lenge’ before concluding with ‘Chhaap Tilak’.
She also sang ‘Zindagi Ki’, her own composition before moving on to ‘Ae Ri Sakhi Mere Piya’. Zila’s concluding piece was the incredibly moving shloka ‘Karpoora Gauram, Karunavatharam, Samsara Saaram’. It was calm balm and soul-stirring, in turns. Zila’s accompanying artistes were fabulous, especially Sushant Sharma on the guitar.
Next up was Parthiv Gohil, who showcased a sneak peek of what his troupe had to offer. His was music that had everyone tapping their feet and dancing. ‘Shiv Shiv Shambo Bholenath’, he chanted, as the music cascaded down in waves. He then asked the audience to chant ‘Alak Niranjan’ and went on to sing the rocking ‘Dum Dum Dum Damroo’.
Artist AV Illango was at work, like he does every year, furiously drawing live sketches as the night progressed. In between, people queued up silently for the annadhanam — hot tomato rice, sweet pongal and black gram sundal. And, when the drum beats on stage got louder, they swayed, still holding their plate.
A kathak recital, a performance by ghatam maestro Vikku Vinayakram and his grandson Swaminathan, more music and chanting followed.
We left halfway through, but there was enough spiritual talk en route. Thanks to car driver Sivaraj, who explained some Tirukkurals and their significance and narrated stories of famous devotees, including Poosalaar Nayanar, who built a temple for the Lord inside his heart. Spirituality can come alive in a car journey too!
