“At Laxmi’s” – a Public Program in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Held in the Style of an Indian Parlour

In the frame of the year of India in Russia (2009), inspired by the experience of Novosibirsk, Nizhny Novgorod collective of Sahaja Yogis decided to organize a Public Program not in the form of a 2-hours concert with giving Self-Realization (as we had done before) but in the form of a parlour in an Indian style presenting different kinds of Indian art. On Sunday, December 13, 2009, a 4-hours program entitled “At Laxmi’s. An evening in an Indian style” was conducted in a cozy caf? in the centre of our city. We are sharing our experience with you:

Preparation for the Program

As the program was to be held in a caf? and it was organized in the middle of December, almost on the eve of the New Year, we decided to create the atmosphere of Diwali and to tell our guests how the New Year in celebrated in India. What were the festive elements of the atmosphere? Lit candles were everywhere – on the tables, window-sills, steps of the ladder; there was the flavor of incenses in the air, and, of course, the program itself was festive. The evening was devoted to the Shri Laxmi – we wanted to tell people about the Goddess whose blessings are wellbeing, family, food, material wealth…

Before the program we prepared:

- a photo gallery depicting mehendi, people, nature, yoga, Diwali, Shri Mataji, Shri Laxmi ((the photos by Sahaja Yogis from different countries were used; in particular, we would like to express our gratitude to Axinia from Austria);

- several videos made with the use of the pictures mentioned above and Indian music. These videos were accompanying the presenter’s stories about mehendi, meditation, India, Diwali and Shri Laxmi.

All these created the atmosphere, as our dear guests said, of “warmth, joy and tenderness”.

When we had been preparing for the program, there was some difficulty: we did not know who would come. Whether those would be people who would come just to eat or they would come to look at us? Would they stay for four hours or would they come and go? Surrendering to Shri Mataji, we shared the responsibilities of the preparation for the program among the members of our collective and started the detailed planning of the event.

What the Event Turned out to Be?

It was surprising to see that all who had come to the event came not accidentally. Some of the people already knew our Sahaja Yoga music ensemble and wanted to listen to Indian music again, some people came for the first time but all these people were the ones who were interested not only in India but also in self-knowledge. Some of the people turned out to be organizers of the city cultural life with who we can organize mutual projects for adults and children now.

Several “subject zones” were set in the caf?: a corner of giving Self-Realization, a corner of mehendi and the stage where music and dances were performed during four hours (ensemble “Turiya” was performing bhajans and qawwalis and Anya Triphonova who came to our city for the program from Kazan showed two classical Indian dances).

We also conducted several music and dance contests. We told the audience about Indian music and culture, sang ourselves and together with the guests, performed Indian dances and taught the people the basics of this art, dressed the ones who wished into saris and gave Self-Realization. Some of our sisters (unexpectedly) prepared delicious sweets and at one of the points all the people present in the caf? got very tasty treatments! The whole evening Sahaja Yogis and seekers were communicating with each other. And the contests added festive mood: a “Singing Contest” (non-yogis were singing a couplet from the bhajan “Jai Ganesh” together with the SY ensemble; afterwards they stayed to sing together with the music band for some time ), a “Dancing Contest” (together with the seekers we danced “Ranu Ranu” almost till one drops ), a “Kuchipudi Master Class” from Anya Triphonova for Yogis and non-Yogis.

Self-Realization was given everywhere: at the mehendi corner, at the meditation corner and, officially, from the stage. As a result, during the four hours our guests fulfilled Self-Realization protocol several times.

The greatest experience which was like a present for us was the sincere, lively, homelike and almost family communication with people who turned out to be such beautiful seekers! By the end of the program it was not felt where there were Yogis and where – non-Yogis. We all were one cheerful and contented family! All the people present at the program felt the warmth and care of our Holy Mother! There was a feeling of a family holiday which Shri Laxmi blessed us with.

Impressions of the Evening:

At the event, there were two Hindus (non-Yogis). We asked them, “We’ve imagined what if Hindus sang Russian folk songs? It seems they would look strange. And what do you think of our performance?” One of the men answered, “You sing wonderfully. And it is a pleasure for us that you are interested in our culture. Everything is great!” His friend added, “Where am I, in Russia or in India? I do not understand: everybody is in a sari, there is Indian music, mehendi…”

Comments from our guests:

“Thank you for the music, playing the tabla (it is magical), wonderful words, mehendi… and joy!”

“No words! I am delighted!”

“Such a holiday! Such wealth for the soul!”

Impressions of Sahaja Yogis:

“I’ve got an impression as if the space was widened, energetically. At the same time one could feel both the Divine protection and the force which was constantly pushing you for something. But everything was done spontaneously. And inside this caf?, notwithstanding the fact that all was constantly circulating – people were moving, different events took place at the same time, etc. – some other spaces also existed and simultaneously everything worked  both on its own and in one and the same mechanism, very harmoniously. And the atmosphere was very homelike”.

“The feelings after the program were amazing. It is a unique experience – giving Self-Realization in a non-traditional form. One can remember Mother’s words about the fact that each seeker should have an opportunity to talk, to communicate. For the whole work not to go mechanically, just making the protocol, but with love, through the heart. During these four hours the atmosphere “at Laxmi’s” was really created. During these hours we all made friends with each other. The state of joy. You forget where there are yogis and non-yogis. It is because we all were in Sahasrara! Each seeker could feel something new, first of all, for himself”.

“So much love! Such homelike environment! Both seekers and yogis were absolutely happy!”

Thank You to the One who does it all!

Jai Shri Mataji!