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U.K LONDON Kendra
The Bhavan London celebrated India’s Independence Day with a grand event on August 7, 2024 with illuminating speeches by guests and cultural performances marking the 78th anniversary of India gaining Independence.
The Chief Guest, H.E Mr. Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India spoke about India and her journey through the years. He said “It has been Bhavan’s service to the communities in the UK that has made the High Commission’s job representing India easier”. The Bhavan represents what India stands for. He added it is an inspiring institution that is doing an excellent job for the diaspora.
The audience were then treated to patriotic songs and dances by the Bhavan students.
U.K LONDON Kendra
The Bhavan, London celebrated International World Dance Day on April 27 and 28, 2024.
The event saw performances by dancers and dance schools from across England. It brought together dancers of all age groups starting from 8–10-years to dancers of a more mature age. There were dancers who had performed previously at The Bhavan as also debutantes.
On the first day, the Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham, Councillor Patricia Quigley, graced the occasion with her presence. The first day saw performances from Natyakshetra School, Vidya Shyam Vetrivel and team, Arthi’s Kalalayam, Bhadram School of Dance, Samarpana Classical Arts, Dr Priyanka Balachandar and team, Edgware Dance Group over-50s, Ahana Ghosh Sikka Dance Team, Natyasri Dance Company, Ponsita School of Dance, Nikkan Dance Academy, Edinburgh, and Urja Performance Team.
On the second day, Team Annam, Sarjan Nartan Academy, Team Anubhava, Noopur Dutta and Team, Nital Dance, Satyam School of Dance and Music, Kathak, Odissi and Bharatanatyam teams from The Bhavan, Asmitha Keer and Team, and Indradhanush Kids Academy put up performances.
U.K LONDON Kendra
The Bhavan opened its doors to youth artists from all over England to perform on the Bhavan stage. After receiving many proposals, the Kendra zeroed in on a total of 18 groups, all young artists and practitioners of Indian Classical dance and music genres.
The event saw the emerging talent in Indian Classical Arts across dance and music genres—Instrumental, Carnatic and Hindustani styles, as well as fusion with Western instruments. In dance, stunning choreographies in Bharata Natyam, Kathak, Odissi, as well a folk-classical fusion were witnessed. It was heart-warming to see so many youngsters with such creativity and talent as well as their hard work and dedication to bring their art forms in a breath-taking display on stage. There was variety and uniqueness in the concept, choreography, costumes, and the use of stage.
The teams who performed were: Sitar Team, The Bhavan, Sangeet Prabhat Ensemble, Yagna Ensemble, Sai Mayur Bharata Matyam Dance School, Odissi Team, The Bhavan, Srishti - Nina Rajarani Dance Creations, Natyanjali Dance School—Cambridge, Kathak Team, The Bhavan, Team Niyati, and Kirti Kala Mandir UK (KKMUKCIC).
On the second day, there were performances by the Geetanjali Academy of Fine Arts, Team Sangamam, The Bhavan, Team Anubhava, Team Pratidhi, Dancing Nikita Company, Nital Dance, Divya Kasturi Company—Young Talents, Naad—Community Group of Pagrav Dance Company.
Sangeet Utsav
Sangeet Utsav is Bhavan’s flagship, annual music festival, celebrating the very best of Indian Classical music. On March 9, 2024, the music lovers were treated to a Carnatic vocal concert by the veteran Sri. Neyveli Santhanagopalan. The veteran singer’s excellent renditions of several loved classical pieces received great applause. He was ably assisted by Sri Balu Raguraman on Violin and accompanied by Sri M Balachandar on Mridangam, and Sri Bangalore R N Prakash on Ghatam. On March 10, 2024, Smt. A Kanyakumari mesmerised with a brilliant violin concert. She was supported by Sri Balu Raguraman on Violin and accompanied by M Balachandar on Mridangam, and Sri R R Pratap on Ghatam. Smt. Kanyakumari also conducted a two-day workshop for intermediate and advanced violin students, which saw more than 20 attendees: an unmissable opportunity for them in their own journeys.
U.K LONDON Kendra
The Kendra held its annual Founder’s Day celebrations on January 27-28, 2024.
Founder’s Day was a very special experience for the performers and the audience alike. It was uplifting to see the quality and the confidence of the students on stage presenting their varied art forms from Bengali music, Sitar and Tabla tableau, Flute whisperings, Mridangam interplays, Violin melodies; the rhythms, and the intricacies of Odissi, Kuchipudi, Kathak and Bharata Natyam; and the beauty of languages and poetry in Sanskrit, Hindi and Bengali.
At this event, 68 students received their Diploma (Grade 5) and Post Diploma (Grade 8) certificates, showing their progress from beginners’ level to this accomplished level taught by the committed and longstanding teachers of the Bhavan. It is a truly remarkable achievement that for the last 50 years, every year there has been a huge turnover of newly-educated British youth. They truly bring the culture of ancient India alive in the old Church building, which was visited by Gandhiji when he was pursuing his legal studies in London in the late 1880s. These students act as the bridge between the UK and India for the next generation. They open the door to the wealth of insight that the Indian performing arts bring through its beautiful tradition of storytelling and its values of respect and education. The Bhavan alumni bring their confidence and artistry to the UK with pride and fortitude.
The Chief Guest for the first day was Mr Deepak Choudhary, Minister (Coordination), High Commission of India, London. On the second day, Ms Aparna Nathan KC, Barrister and Senior Tax Lawyer, and member of The Bhavan’s Education Committee, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Mithila Sharma from the Arts Council England also graced the occasion.
Republic Day Celebrations
The Bhavan, London, organised a celebration of India’s Republic Day on February 8, 2024.
His Excellency Sri Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India, was the Chief Guest. Andrew Slaughter, the Labour MP for Hammersmith, spoke on the occasion about the important work that The Bhavan was doing in promoting Indian culture while uniting people through culture in the Borough. Sri Vikram Doraiswami in his address said that the beauty of art lies in the fact that one need not be an Indian to come to the Bhavan and enjoy the arts being taught and practised here. There are more Indian students, businesses and expats in the UK than ever before. These communities are keen to stay connected to Indian culture, which gives the Bhavan a great opportunity to propagate Indian arts and culture. The speeches were followed by cultural performances by the students of music and dance of the Bhavan.
U.K LONDON Kendra
On November 25, 2023, the annual Diwali Gala was held at the Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London, with His Excellency Mr. Vikram Doraiswami, the High Commissioner of India, London as the chief guest, and sitarist Anoushka Shankar as the guest of honour.
The event began with a vibrant music ensemble performance by the Bhavan students. Dr Nandakumara offered a prayer after which the Bhavan’s Chairman Mr. Subhanu Saxena gave the welcome address. This was followed by a scintillating Kathak performance by the Bhavan students.
Anoushka Shankar addressed the audience and spoke fondly of her memories at the Bhavan. This was followed by a beautiful Bharatanatyam performance by the Bhavan students.
Mr. Vikram Doraiswami’s eloquent speech was very well received and appreciated. He spoke with insight on Indian culture and how our arts have survived thousands of years and are still learnt, taught, and performed widely across the globe. He appreciated the Bhavan’s continual efforts in making sure of the same.
The event concluded with a brilliant Odissi performance by the Bhavan students.
U.K LONDON Kendra
On August 2, 2023, the London Kendra celebrated the Independence Day of India with a grand event comprising illuminating speeches by guests and cultural performances.
The celebration marked the 77th anniversary of India gaining Independence.
The evening began with a prayer by Executive Director Dr. M N Nandakumara, MBE, followed by the welcome address by Mr. Subhanu Saxena, Chairman, Bhavan UK. Cllr. Patricia Quigley, Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham, addressed the gathering. She threw light on the Bhavan’s illustrious history of 50 years and the pride of place it holds in the local community as well as in the broader diaspora.
Lord Loomba, CBE, Member of the House of Lords, spoke about the freedom fighters and briefly remembered the freedom struggle and the incidents that lead to India’s Independence.
The main speech of the evening was by H.E Mr. Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India. He spoke about how, 76 years ago, there were concerns on how India could achieve democracy with all its diversity, and yet today it stands tall as the world’s largest democracy. The fact that the Bhavan is based in a Church building is itself a testament to our culture and tradition of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
This was followed by a felicitation to Nandaji, for being honoured with an MBE.
Nandaji expressed his gratitude to Dalalji, Mathoorji, Dr. Marr, Shantanuji and Joginderji.
The audience were then treated to patriotic songs and dances by the students of the Bhavan.
U.K LONDON Kendra
The Bhavan, London, held its annual summer school between July 15 and August 6, 2023. A three-week intensive offering training with experts in the field of Indian Classical Dance and Music from India and the UK, culminated in a weekend performance. The Bhavan’s summer school is one of the most eagerly awaited annual summer intensives in the UK.
Over 240 students were a part of the summer intensive and all courses proved to be extremely popular and well-attended. Students from Intermediate to Advanced and Masters levels were a part of the intensive.
The summer school teachers’ concert series showcased all the visiting teachers in live concerts and also gave a chance for the budding artists of the Bhavan to open for them.
The intensive culminated in a grand weekend finale event on August 5–6, 2023. All students had the opportunity to perform on the stage, showcasing the special choreographies and songs they had learned during the summer intensive. Both days saw a houseful auditorium, and the performances were received with great enthusiasm and appreciation by the audience.
U.K LONDON Kendra
The Bhavan, London is currently in the middle of its annual Summer School programme. It is a three-week intensive programme in Indian Classical Arts including dance, music, instruments, and languages with renowned teachers from India and the UK.
July 22 and 23, 2023 saw a Hindustani vocal recital by Dr. Nagaraj Rao Havaldar and a Carnatic vocal recital by Dr. Baby Sreeram.
The Hindustani vocal recital was opened by Vidya Joshi, followed by the main recital by Dr.Nagaraj Rao Havaldar.
Dr Havaldar also spoke about the lineage and the responsibility of the artists to carry forward the Parampara to the younger generation.
The next evening began with an opening recital by Srividya Srinivasan, followed by the main recital by Dr. Baby Sreeram. She presented some rare Krithis and impressed the audience with her mastery of the tradition and range.
The second weekend of teachers’ performances was on July 29 and 30, 2023 with a Kathak recital by Abhay Shankar Mishra and a Bharatanatyam recital by Smt. Srekala Bharath.
The recital on July 29, 2023 featured the beautiful upcoming artist Aishwarya Hariram, followed by Abhayji’s presentation.
Abhayji’s mastery over Kathak shone through the performance and will easily be remembered as one of the best Kathak recitals the Bhavan has seen in recent times.
The Sunday event featured an opening performance by upcoming dancer Abbeyrame Laveniya Hariharan.
The main performance by Smt. Srekala Bharath was also well appreciated by the audience.
U.K LONDON Kendra
The Bhavan, London celebrated World Dance Day on April 29, 2023. It was cause for much celebration for The Bhavan as well as the dancers as the event was revived at The Bhavan auditorium after a two-year break due to the pandemic.
The event proved a massive success. Dancers and dance schools travelled from across England to perform before a sellout audience. The themes chosen for this year were 'Dance in response to the climate change and the natural environment', and 'Dance in response to the increasing digitalisation of every aspect of today's life'.
The programme included a Bharatanatyam performance by Kavya Muralidharan, a classical Odissi piece by Katrina Rute and team, performances by Amritha Jayakrishnan and team, Satyam School of Dance and Music, Debanjali Biswas and her Manipuri dance ensemble, Samarpana Classical Arts, Cambridge, Divya Kasturi's Company of Young Talents, Asmitha Keer and team, Monidipa Seal and team and Abhinav Mishra and his Amun Bhachu team.
The general and folk segment began with a Bharatanatyam presentation by the Upahaar School of Dance, followed by a heart-warming emiclassical/Bollywood performance by an Edgware dance group of women over 50.
The audience was also treated to energetic folk dances by Ragasudha & Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence (Tribal), Garba folk dance group (Garba), London School of Hula and 'Ori (Hawaiian), Ponsita School of Dance (Tamil harvest folk), and Sarjan Nartan Academy (Rajasthani folk).
U.K LONDON Kendra
Dr. Mattur Nandakumara, a highly respected authority on Vedic literature, philosophy, mythology, and rituals, has been appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition of his services to the teaching, performance, and accessibility of Indian classical arts in the UK. He has actively promoted Sanskrit education and Indian culture in the UK and Europe for over four decades.
Dr. Nandakumara is the current Executive Director of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (also known as The Bhavan) in London, UK and also been identified as one of the UK's top 100 most influential Asians for his role as an ambassador for India's art, culture, and philosophy.
Since 1977, Dr. Nandakumara has been associated with The Bhavan in London, where he has been teaching multiple Sanskrit courses ranging from introductory to expert-level courses in grammar, commentary, and discussion on the great literary texts.
Expressing his gratitude upon receiving the MBE award, Dr. Mattur Nandakumara said, -œI am deeply humbled and honoured to receive this prestigious recognition from His Majesty King Charles III. I am committed to continuing my efforts in teaching and making Indian classical arts accessible in the UK and the rest of the world. I am grateful for the support of my family, mentors, colleagues, and students, without whom this would not have been possible.-
Dr. Nandakumara's outstanding achievements in promoting and preserving Sanskrit education and Indian culture have been recognised with several awards, including the Kannada Rajyotsava Award in 2011, the Samskriti Seva Samman by Hindi Samiti UK for his contribution to Art and Culture, and the Award of Distinction in the field of Art and Culture in 2006, instituted by the India International Foundation and presented by Baroness Usha Prashar.
Dr. Nandakumara has contributed to promoting Indian culture in the UK by organising concerts for the benefit of The Bhavan featuring eminent artists like Pt Ravi Shankar, Pt Birju Maharaj, Dr. Balamuralikrishna, Pt Jasraj, Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Zakir Hussain, and Anoushka Shankar, among others. Since 1984, he has been responsible for presenting over eighty events every year, featuring eminent artists and scholars, many of whom have conducted workshops and lecture demonstrations.
Dr. Nandakumara's dedication, knowledge, and contribution to the promotion and preservation of Indian culture and Sanskrit education are an inspiration to all.
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