Har Har Gange, a thematic concert presented by Team Shravanam in association with BCCA, was a river of music banked by storytelling. Amid heavy downpour the event took place at the SPJIMR Auditorium, Andheri Bhavan’s campus.
“We started this initiative of thematic concerts a year ago and have been able to kindle curiosity and attract audiences,” says Subramanian Chidambaran. He teams up with Kanchana Manyam and Sidhi Krishnamoorthy, who are trained under illustrious gurus.
The sound of a flowing river, conch and temple bells all created a spiritual ambience. The opening and concluding verses in Sanskrit were composed by Subramanian.
The introductory song detailing the journey of Ganga set to Ragatalamalika was presented by Sidhi. The word ‘Ganga’ implied one who sings (gayati) and flows (gamayati).
Cultural link
Subramanian explained the reverence that the rivers command in our culture, right from the Vedic times — from the origin of Akasha Ganga, who was born when Brahma washed the feet of Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Vamana, to the story of Bhagiratha’s penance to bring Ganga down for the liberation of his ancestors, who were burnt to ashes by Sage Kapila.
As the Earth cannot stand the fierce force of the Ganga, Siva held her in His matted locks, releasing her slowly, on the request of Bhagiratha. A lilting folk song in Telugu ‘Sivuni Sirasu,’ composed by Kasturi Padmavati rendered by Kanchana, described the storyline.
How Ganga purifies anything that came in touch with her, was highlighted through a Bengali song ‘Patitodharini Gange’ by Sidhi.
Subramanian took the audience through a visual journey of Ganga, starting from the Gangotri, Gaumukh and Satopanth glaciers in the Himalayas to Bhagirathi and Alakananda with other rivers becoming the Ganges at Dev Prayag. Explanation the significance of Triveni Sangam was followed by a Mira Bhajan ‘Chalo man Ganga Jamuna Teer’, sung by Sidhi.
The greatness of Kashi and association of Siva with Ganga were detailed followed by Dikshitar’s ‘Gange maam pahi’ in Jhanjhuti rendered by Kanchana. The final leg of Ganga’s journey highlighting how different saints and sages have regarded her as the eternal flow of knowledge and not just as a river was presented with a beautiful rendition of a verse from ‘Bhaja Govindam’ of Adi Sankaracharya.
Sidhi’s soulful rendering of ‘Ganga tum behati ho kyun’, made popular by Bhupen Hazarika, reiterated the narrative, drawing attention to the state of Ganga today — polluted and exploited by human apathy, negligence and exploitation. The song coupled with the visuals had an impact on the audience.
The team concluded the performance with a Mangalam glorifying river Ganga and praying that the river becomes pure and clean again. Pranav Ganapati on the keyboard and Rahul Hari on the mridangam supported and complemented the recital.
The narrative replete with mythological facts and anecdotes enhanced by the multi-lingual and multi-genre music struck a chord with the audience.
“It was captivating, with the powerpoint presentations, the stories and the songs well-chosen and well-rendered. Ganga is so intertwined with Indian psyche,” said Lalitha Dhara, coordinator with BCCA.
“Rather than just singing compositions, we wish to connect them through a theme, making our presentation a source of information and entertainment,” says Subramanian.
