The Hindu Prachaar Kendra (HPK) will be hosting its 17th Annual Vasant Panchami celebration at its headquarters, Gilibia Trace, Raghunanan Road, Enterprise, on Sunday from 8 am.
Vasant Panchami is an annual early-morning experience in February, of music, flowers, fragrance, fraternity and tradition in a village setting.
This event ushers in the season of spring and symbolised the brilliance of nature and the vibrancy of life. The ambiance created at the kendra mimics the outburst of colours in nature, particularly yellow. This occasion also celebrates Mother Saraswati, giver of wisdom.
The kendra has designed this celebration to promote the heritage of Vasant Panchami especially its connection with music, dance, the word, learning and aesthetics, ever mindful of the ethos of the event.
As an offering to Mother Saraswati, the kendra provides an opportunity for a local artist or group to make a performative offering whilst honouring the individual(s) for propagating Hindu traditions through their art form.
Sharda Patasar is this year's selected artist-academic-yajman. She has achieved advanced competence in both fields of academia and performance. She is trained in classical Indian music by her father, Caribbean music icon Mungal Patasar. She also holds a PhD in Cultural Studies and her thesis focuses on the development of Indo-Trinidadian music.
Patasar has composed music for films and documentaries including Coolie Pink and Green (2009). She composed 17 Colours and a Sitar, in collaboration with Australian-born UK-based pianist Tom Donald for Mohammed's 2010 film.
Her work comprises local and foreign performances including representation for T&T at the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Forum in Australia; a performance with the rapso group 3Canal for the National Icons Awards 2013 and a sitar recital at the Inauguration of the fifth President of T&T, Anthony Carmona, in 2013.
More info
The 17th Annual Vasant Panchami celebration is divided in two phases:
Phase One
Sharda Patasar's offerings will constitute: a short composition; classical raaga music; offering her PhD thesis; readings from thesis by Prof Vijay Naraynsingh; music offering to Mother Saraswati
Phase Two
The festivities will end with the launching of Kendra Phagwa Festival 2014, with the traditional "boiling de first abeer." This ritual is accompanied by the singing of "chautaals" (classical phagwa songs) with the light sprinkling of "gulal" (coloured powder) to complement the celebration of spring. An excerpt of the Holika Dahan Drama 2014–Prahlaad–Child Saint Hero–In Spite of Abuse, will be presented. A pichakaaree on the theme–The Child Will We Rock or Wreck The Cradle, will be presented. For more info, contact Geeta Vaahini, president of the HPK at 790-6606 and geetasukri@gmail.com, or Amrita Maharaj-Dube at 685-6133 and amrita.g.maharaj@gmail.com