What’s On

Upanishads short course

Starting March SVT Vidyalaya presents Upanishatsarasangraha a rare and free opportunity to learn the essence of all Upanishads. Sri Vasudevacharya, Senior Disciple of Swami Dayananda Saraswathi will teach the course at Wentworthville.

Details Kumar 0407 108 372

Chinmaya Mission events

28 March Rama Navami Celebrations at Chinmaya Sannidhi 10.00am to 12.30pm. Bring your kids dressed in Ramayan characters to enhance the program.

7-9 April Day-long Children’s school holiday camp entitled Rama Rules

5 May Sanskrit classes with Br Gopalji (5 week course with interactive Learn Sanskrit Yourself CD)

Details call Chinmaya Mission Australia (Sydney) 02 8850 7400

Sri Seetha Rama Kalyanam

27 March JET Australia Sydney organises the traditional Seetha Ramam Kalyanam at Tuggerah Community Hall, Anzac Road, Tuggerah. Details Veena 0404 029 520

Dancing to spirituality

28 March Natyadharshan Dance School presents a charity dance program, at

Srinath (noted singer and teacher of music) and B U Ganesh Prasad (well-known violinist) - had been invited from India to participate in the celebrations. The pair set the scene for the Aradhana by performing at a concert on March 6. Ravichandhira of Melbourne was the accompanying mridangist. Nagamani exhibited her talent in her rendering, not limited to Purandara Dasa, of Simhendra Madhyama (Ille Vaikunta), Hindola (Ma Ramanan), her own Thillana composition, and other items. A learned exposition of raga and lyrics became evident in the concert.

Day 2 (March 7) began with the mass rendering of the Navaratna Kritis (nine gems) of Purandara Dasa – including Jaya Janaki Kantha, Kallu Sakkare, Na ninna Dhyanadoliralu. More than thirty performers

Casula Power House Theatre, (Casula Road - near Jolly Knight Motel) 6pm. Details Sashi Bala 02 9607 2916.

Events at Global Organisation for Divinity

28 March Ramanavami celebrations at Parramatta.

15 May An evening of music and dance at the Sydney Baha’i Centre, 107 Derby Street, Silverwater.

Devotional music by Uma Ayyar and Mythili Narayanaswamy, and bharatanatyam dance presentation by Padma Balakumar’s Nrityagriha School of Dance. Details Mythili Bala 02 9482 1204. More details at www.godivinity. org.au

Sangeetha Gurukula

3 April A new Australian forum fort he development of classickl Indian music and dance will be launched at Five Dock.

Details Nalini Sankar 02 9802 5805.

School Holidays Workshop

6, 7 and 8 April Indian Australian Arts and Film Association presents a workshop for children aged 5 to 14.

8am to 5pm, Jones Park Hall, Burnett St, Mays Hill. Activities include Yoga, meditation, music, Indian and Australian took part in this fitting salute to the saint composer. This was followed by an illustrated talk by Nagamani while her students in Sydney gave vocal support.

Then came the song offerings by smaller groups, which included youngsters and elders alike. This was a clear exposition of talent in Sydney. The compositions rendered included some well-known ones and also some rare ones like Ittige Mele Nintha and Holeya Holathi crafts. Details www.iaafa.org.au

The centre point of the day was the concert by the violinist B U Ganesh Prasad who is blossoming to be a vocalist. He rendered Purandara Dasa compositions such as Manava Nillisuvudu (Nata Kuranji), Manava Janma Doddadu (Purvi Kalyani) and Dharma Shravana (Durga). Clarity of diction was the praise worthy feature.

The day’s celebrations ended with Arathi and Prasada. The organisers are to be congratulated for keeping this tradition alive in Sydney.

Hindu Youth Conference

10 and 11 April The first Australian Hindu Youth Conference will be held at the University of Western Sydney. Details Pooja : 0431 548 605 , Krishna 0411 988 206

Triple P: Positive Parenting Program for South Asian Families

20 April Ashfield Council will run this popular parenting program for South Asian families in partnership with the Croydon Child & Family Health Team. The program will look at topics such as managing common child behaviour problems, effective parenting strategies and how to take care of yourself as a parent. Venue Infants Home (17 Henry St. Ashfield), at 10am. Free childminding provided. For more information and bookings phone council on 02 9716 1844 or email jaey@ashfield.nsw.gov.au

Vipassana Meditation Course

April 21-May 2 A 10-day silent residential meditation retreat will be held at the Dhamma Bhumi Vipassana Centre at Blackheath Blue Mountains. Instructions will be available in diverse Indian languages. Details contact Shalini

02 9635 4541 or visit www.bhumi. dhamma.org

4th International Sharana

Sanskruthi Convention

25 April The Basava Samithi Australasia announces its 4th international convention, which aims to promote social and cultural welfare of ethnic community from Karnataka, India. Venue Parramatta Town Hall, Parramatta, 8am to 10pm. Details contact Satish Bhadranna at Satish. Bhadranna@nmhg.com

Gujarati play

1 May Shri Shiva Mandir, in association with Mahavir Productions, has organised a Gujarati play Baa Bagde to Baar Vagade to raise funds for the building works at the Mandir. Venue Riverside Theatre, Parramatta, 5:30pm. Details contact Urmila Daya 0421 301 779 or Ravi Parekh 0408 950 820.

Classical music concert

22 May O.S Arun in aid of Sri Venkateswara Temple of Helensburgh, Bankstown Town Hall (Cnr Rickard and Chapel Street) Bankstown. Details phone 02 9706 7354 or 02 9879 4350.

For expert coaching in