Navi Mumbai: Harinam saptah - a week long religious activity conducted regularly by various organisation in Navi Mumbai largely involves of reciting god’s name and verses but at Kamothe the event was not held in the conventional way. Instead giving the religious event a whole new outlook were the 500 odd table artists.
The religious gathering frequented by the locals to hear to classical songs and recitation of holy verses were in for a different treat. The troupe consisting of both amateurs and professional tabla artists staged the releegious gathering through a 3 day performance.
500 Tabla Artists Perform Tukaram Hymns at Kamothe's Unique Harinam Saptah | File Photo
The hymns written by Tukaram was recitied through Tabla. The novel intiative done by a instrument training class - Nadbrahma Shikshan Sanstha is going on for the third year. “ I wanted the artform of Tabla to reach to every household therefore started hosting Harinam Saptah by getting my students to play tabla,” said the founder of the nstitute Deepak Suryavanshi.
Suryavanshi efforts have yield results as the process which began with just handful of students have now seen an exponential increase with 500 students performing. The training class was launced in the year 2020 with just 25 students taking online lessons. Over the years hundreds have enrolled and over the past three years the activity of conducting Harinam saptah has become an event awaited by residents.
“The way the event is conducted is very different from the others. It is nice to see student’s rendition of popular religious songs through table. It is the synchorisation that makes the progam a hit,” said Rupal Kulkarni , a resident from the node.
The students undergo extensive training to be able to perfrom for the Harinam Saptah. Every Sunday they spend hours brainstorming the songs on which the table will be used.
“Just like playing any other instrument, tabla plyaing calls for dedication and immense practice. On the three days they played for nearly 3 hours each day with little break. It is a matter of pride for the family to see their wards performing brilliantly while upkeeping the traidion of Harinam Saptah,” said the founder.
