**************************************** For more information/links, see http://goanet.netfirms.com ****************************************
CROSSING THE RELIGIOUS DIVIDES This Sunday, at �Deepti Sadan� � the new Pilar Fathers� Directorate, recently opened in Alto de Porvorim � will be the venue for a very special event. Entitled �Tajalaan � Harmony� it will take the form of an inter-faith prayer service with participants invited from all the religious communities followed by a performance given by �The Goa State String Orchestra� under its musical director, Nigel Dixon. Tajalaan � Harmony is the brainchild of Father Miranda, parish priest of Holy Family Church, Porvorim. �We are all proud that Goa is an oasis of peace and to a good measure, of security. We have not witnessed the ugly, demeaning conflicts on account of religion or caste that not infrequently flare up in various parts of our country. However, it is not sufficient to speak of peace and harmony: one must strive to foster peace and harmony�. With this in mind, Father Miranda has, together with the Pilar Fathers, organised this inter-faith prayer service at �Deepti Sadan�, the Pilar Fathers� brand new centre situated next door to the also new Porvorim Police Station. �The word �Tajalaan� is a Sanskrit word taken from the Upanishads. Ta is �He, the Reality� � ja �that goes� � laan �enveloping and encompassing everything�. In simple terms: �The Reality, Imminent and Transcendental��. Miranda has contacted spiritual leaders of all the major faiths. �We all believe that only He can bring about real harmony because He is the harmony par excellence: harmony within ourselves, harmony with our fellow brothers and sisters and harmony with Nature and the Universe.� Harmony, of course, is a musical term, and music will play an important role in the event. In addition to Konkani hymns and Bhajans there will be a performance by Goa�s very own orchestra, the GSSO. Miranda is also a founder member of the orchestra�s support group �Friends of the Orchestra� so it comes as no surprise that they have been invited to participate. The orchestra is coming to the end of its highly successful inaugural y be the last of the current season of concerts. Fresh from its resounding success at the Goa Marriott in February, this will be an ideal opportunity for the orchestra to reach out to a whole new audience. �We are delighted to be invited to perform�, says Nigel Dixon, the orchestra�s founder and conductor. �The Goa State String Orchestra is, as its name suggests, an orchestra of Goans for Goans. This has always been part of our brief. I can think of no more ideal an opportunity of getting through to a yet wider audience than that already attracted by our performances and it is a fitting finale to our current concert season.� As Nigel points out, this orchestral performance has an additional significance. �I was contacted some months ago by Eric Pinto, an overseas Goan living in New York, who wished to present the Goa State String Orchestra in the Porvorim area (his family links are in Sangolda) for a performance as his personal tribute to the memory of Mehli Mehta. Founder of the Bombay Symphony Orchestra and father of the world-renowned orchestral conductor Zubin Mehta, Mehli was a leading light in the development of western classical music in India. His legacy continues in the work of the Mehli Mehta Foundation in Mumbai which, apart from organising the annual Sangaat Festival is a source of training and inspiration for talented young musicians. It is my hope that the GSSO will form close links with the Foundation in the coming months as a result of this connection and I cannot thank Eric enough for providing the opportunity.� All in all, this promises to be a very enjoyable and spiritually uplifting occasion and members of all religious communities are cordially invited. �Tajalan� will begin at 5.30pm followed by the Goa State String Orchestra�s performance at 6.30pm. _______________________________________________________________________ Odomos - the only mosquito protection outside 4 walls - Click here to know more! http://r.rediff.com/r?http://clients.rediff.com/odomos/Odomos.htm&&odomos&&wn _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.goanet.org/mailman/listinfo/goanet
