On an excellent concert of Hindustani classical music at Adishakti Ramayana festival we had a chance to indulged ourselves at Padmabhushan Pandit Chhannulal Mishra Gitas of the Ramcharitmanas. Gitas are poetic - philosophical texts which not only contain a certain logos or wisdom distilled in verses; the are also texts where philosophical insights are sanctified by one's own experience. Pandit Chhannulal Mishra presented Laxmangita, Vibhishanagita and Kakbhushundigita, and some couplets from Kevat Prasang. Pandit Chhannulal Mishra is considered one of the finest exponents of Hindustani classical music because of his unique blend of the Banaras Gayaki and the Punjab Gayaki, in his renditions of khayal, dadra, thumri, chaiti, kajri, hori and bhajan. He was accompanied by Pandit Ramkumar Mishra on tabla, by Sri Ravidnra Mishra on harmonium, and by Indresh Mishra on the tanpura. Read more

Two of volunteers from Living Routes talks with children on one of the rehearsal for the play - "The Little Bang” that was shown at Visitor Center in the beginning of October at the term holidays. Jesse explains how children, who are the actors, are involved in the play. Children are guided by grown ups of Miraculous Production, but main work is on them. Participating in play is a good experience for them, and many, who might be more introverted, they open themselves over years. Nevertheless those plays are strong projects which creates amongst children special social bond. Read more

Ranjani and Gayatri perform their well appreciated carnatic melodies at the Adishakti Theater for the 2011 Soorya Festival of Pondicherry. - Ranjani and Gayatri are among the few carnatic musicians who have achieved a high level of success in both vocal and violin music. After more than a decade as successful violinists, the sisters' foray into vocal music has brought them instant recognition and wide acclaim. The sisters started giving vocal concerts in 1997, and within three years, won high praise from discerning critics and music lovers all over the globe. - blogs.wesleyan.edu

Priyadarshini Govind enchants the audience with her bharathnatyam performance at the Adishakti theater for the 2011 Soorya Festival event.  A graduate in commerce from the University of Madras, Chennai, Priyadarsini holds a diploma in Mass Communication, but Bharatanatyam has been her first love ever since she was six.Tall and slim, this Chennai based dancer is a delight to watch, the strong lines of her dance brought alive by a quality of abhinaya, nothing short of being in a class of its own.Intense and naturally talented, her special interest remains abhinaya: 'I think it's beautiful and I was trained in a particular style that gives a lot of emphasis on it'. artindia.net Read more