Krishnaarpitayen – A lecture dedicated to Krishna on Janmashtami

Jhilmil-USA has been at the forefront of organizing programs related to Indian Art, Culture and Literature for past 20 years. They promote local artists, invite artists from India and sometimes take advantage of visiting artists/scholars in the USA.

Dr. Madhavi Patel and Ratna Bochare from Indore on a visit to New Jersey gave a talk recently entitled, “Dedications on Krishna” at the home of Rajni and Anoop Bhargava in Plainsboro, NJ. PHOTO: Provided by Nandini Rai

One such opportunity came when Dr. Madhavi Patel and Mrs. Ratna Bochare from Indore were on a visit to New Jersey, USA. Dr. Madhavi Patel is an ENT Surgeon and Mrs. Ratna Bochare- is Chief Town Planner at Indore development corporation. Besides that, they are both scholars of Indian Scriptures and authority on Ramayan and Mahabharat. They have presented interesting stories from them in a manner that delights the audience. They have done that to packed audience all over India and in many other parts of the world.

On August 16^th, a day after Krishna Janmashtami we had a pleasure to hear these two wonderful artists at the residence of Rajni and Anoop Bhargava in Plainsboro, NJ.

The topic, as you might have guessed, was ‘Dedications on Krishna’(Krishnaarpitayen), meaning people through which he demonstrated his different powers or learnings of life. To name some – River Yamuna, Gopikas, Flute (Bansuri), Draupadi, Mother Yashoda, Kunti and Radha.

Through highlighting these stories, Ratna and Madhavi ji, who were taking turns explaining each incident, conveyed a strong spiritual message. As they expressed in Sanskrit that, ‘Twam Mamev, Aham twamev’, which is, happiness does not reside in a feeling of possessing/owning something, rather it lies in the transcendental experience that we are always yours. In a way stories of these characters bring out some wonderful illustrations on sacrificial life.

This meeting was arranged in an informal manner where audience also participated in the discussion. They had a chance to ask questions which both the artists answered in a delightful manner. Anoop Bhargava read a poem from the book ‘Kanupriya’ written by Dharamvir Bharti. Nandini Rai recited her self-composed poem written around the learnings from Krishna’s life.

The meeting wrapped up with tea and snacks. Everyone went home satisfied and fulfilled.