Mumbai : The ten-day long Kanha Music & Meditation Festival has been attracting over hundreds of thousands of seekers, meditation practitioners and music enthusiasts to Kanha Shanti Vanam – the headquarters of Heartfulness in the outskirts of Hyderabad to partake of the 150th birth anniversary week celebrations of Lalaji Maharaj – the Adi guru of Shri Ram Chandra Mission. On the last but one day of the festivities Chief Guest Shri Devusingh Jesinghbhai Chauhan – Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications who joined the event released a commemorative stamp to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Samarth Guru Mahatma Shri Ram Chandra Ji Maharaj of Fatehgarh (Pujya Lalaji Maharaj) as he was joined in by Shri K Prakash – Chief Post Master General, Telangana Circle in the divine presence of Rev. Daaji.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Devusingh Jesingbhai Chauhan said, “Spirituality is the basis for the progress of the nation. The Sahaj Marg path of Shri Ram Chandra Mission is helping spirituality being very accessible and joyous journey. If every induvial adopts spirituality, the world would become beautiful place. Heartfulness is doing its job in this director. Apart from this what Heartfulness has done by bringing the various grassroots initiatives including raising an unbelievable green cover on an arid land is praiseworthy. I congratulate Pujya Daaji on being awarded the Padma Bhushan for the tireless works he has put in and guiding communities and individuals around the world on the path of peace and harmony.”
Shri Kamlesh Patel ‘Daaji’ said, “It is such a joy to receive this special recognition and matter of joy in celebration of Shri Ram Chandra ji Maharaj. We are ever grateful. What is the greatest contribution of Shri Ram Chandra ji Maharaj? When he first rediscovered the ancient science of Pranahuti, he taught us that experiencing the Divine Light within is taking the consciousness to the higher level. Pranahuti is the fundamental of Shri Ram Chandra Mission. Without this this meditation becomes like any other system – a corpse without life. Lalaji Maharaj (Shri Ram Chandra ji Maharaj) would equate it to breathing in new life into our lives. In a way, it truly makes us understand the meaning of ‘Life in Life’ as Shri Ram Chandra Ji Maharaj used to say. Until we pray sincerely, we cannot receive that light in our hearts. There is no need of a temple of bowing before an idol when we have the Divine Light within us.”
A stellar performance by Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia was the hallmark of the festival as his soulful music set the rhythm for a spiritual journey. This was followed by mass Heartfulness meditation led by Shri Kamlesh Patel ‘Daaji’ – the Guide of Heartfulness Meditation Worldwide and the current President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission. This is not the first time Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia performed at Kanha Shanti Vanam. Last year, he had also performed in support of Forests by Heartfulness initiative at the world’s largest meditation hall
The event was also marked by opening the world’s first Inner Peace Museum at Heartfulness which showcases artworks, paintings, sculptures, and other installations that depict the life and teachings of the Lalaji Maharaj in his own handwriting. The purpose of the Inner Peace Museum is also to seed an aspiration pay homage to humanity’s inner quest for the highest since creation. Establishing the museum symbolizes that true peace can only be possible if we realize it in our hearts and through it unite as one. Professional artists from Germany and art students from The Dresden Academy of Fine Arts joined hands with the Heartfulness Institute for this beautiful initiative.
The ten-day music festival has had a line-up of greats such as Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Rahul Sharma, Pt. Sanjeev Abhyankar and Shashank Subramanyam, and Kaushiki Chakraborty. The closing day will witness its grand finale by a music recital by Sudha Raghunathan.
Quite many visitors are staying through the festivities for the next few days and benefitting from the serenity and positive vibrations at the centre. In terms of the concerts, they are awaiting to watch the other prominent personalities weave in magic with their music.