When asanas and melodies gel together on International Yoga Day

The celebrations, organised by city-based Carnatica Archival Centre, have roped in musicians across the world, to conduct a mélange of yoga and musical routines, to mark the dual occasions. Speaking to DTNext, KN Shashikiran, Managing Trustee of Carnatica, said the celebrations will take place simultaneously across the world – starting with New Zealand until the curtains come down in the USA. 

“This celebration, titled Naada Yoga, combines yoga and music to ensure the well-being of the body, mind and soul. While we conduct this event every year, this is the first time that the celebrations will happen in multiple cities across the world on the same day and time. 

The programmes will be conducted in prominent cities like Detroit, New Jersey, Delaware, Dallas, Seattle and San Diego in the US, Toronto and Ottawa in Canada, in venues across Middle East (Dubai and Doha), Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton in New Zealand, as well as United Kingdom, Germany and Singapore. Since the earliest sunrise is in New Zealand, the celebrations will kick off from there,” said the Carnatic vocalist, who will lead the show in the US. In India, cities like Bengaluru, Pune and Chennai will be observing the day. 

“In Chennai, we will start off with a session in a public space, like the Nageswara Rao Park, where a meditation programme will be held followed by renditions of namasankeerthanam, a vibrant and energetic group bhajan where anyone can join. 

At Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School and MOP Vaishnav College for Women, the celebrations will continue, put up by students and musicians. The grand finale is scheduled for the evening at Arkay Convention Centre, which will be a sort of a massive jamming session, where unusual music combinations will be presented. 

For instance, there will be a combination of nadaswaram and vocals, which is not common. The idea is to get musicians together and celebrate by trying something musically different,” said Shashikiran. The grand finale will feature performances from Sudha Raja’s Sargam Choir, VVS Murari’s Carnatic Philharmony, ‘Carnatic Choir’ by KN Shashikiran, ‘A Global Tribute to Trinity & Global peace’ by Gayathri Girish with Vishruthi Girish, Nisha Rajagopal, Chitraveena Ganesh and Chinmaya Sisters, ‘Musical Conversations – Nadham & Swaram’ by Bharath Sundar and M Karthikeyan, ‘Vocal, Violin & Venu’ by Thiruvarur Girish, VVS Murari and JA Jayant, ‘Keerthanam – Sangeerthanam’ by Apoorva Ravindhran, Anahita Ravindran and JB Keerthana, ‘Layam & Melody’ by Kunnakudi M Balamuralikrishna.