I always feel like I am going to my ancient homeland when I go to Rarh. Its here that people are so very natural, where love and loving family feeling flows freely and profusely from deep inside the hearts of the people, where the landscape is so exremely beautiful, somtimes soft sometimes fierce, yet always condusive to spiritual expression. Its no wonder that kirtan originated here and still flourishes in this land of red earth, where the Bauls also come from, with their mystic songs, and ektaras.
Firstly I just really want to thank so many generous, open hearted people who helped make this event so sucessful, especially the sponsors to whom I am very grateful, the participants including the International kirtan group who had the courage to peform in front of such a knowledgeable audience, and of course the Rarhi kirtaniyas, whom I have never seen perform with so much devotion and zeal.
Firstly our sponsors were: Bratati, Dada Ratnakrsananda, Janakii, Jyotiprabha, Ketana and Shivanii from Australia, the British Library Sound Archives, Kavita from Czech Republic, Tinku and myself. I also want to give special thanks to Sanjay Mahato (Tinku), his wife Rekha, Shibra, Ma, Santa and other family members and friends who took so much care of all of us and were so generous with their time and efforts to make this festival a great sucess.
Around 5,000 people were present over the weekend, from the local area, from further afield, as well as people from other countries such as Australia, Bangladesh, Canary Islands, Ireland, Jamaica and the UK. The kirtan performances were absolutely rivetting, the satsaung was inspiring, the hospitality awesome and the food delicious.
One of the highlights was the Nagar kirtan on the final morning of the festival, it was the grand finale of the weekend. All the villagers came out to see or participate in the kirtan, the Rarhi teams with all the westerners, singing and dancing together in blissful surrender. Everyone enjoyed throwing colours on each other, young and old, and we all ended up covered with pink and red coloured powder, jumping, running, dancing, singing in the streets and calling gods name!!
It was so good we decided to do it every year, so start saving your pennies everyone and come and take part in the best time you could ever have!!
