BRAHM NAAD

for the first time ever in the world, a grand symphony of a 1000 sitarists. 21 & 22 November, 2008. NCR Delhi, India

Art of Living show enters Guinness Book of World Records



Above: The certificate from Guinness World Records

21st November, 2008



Above: Lighting the Lamp - (L to R) Dalit Samaj Maha Guruji, Shri Raja Reddy, Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Poojya Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji, Shri Vinod Khanna, Former Minister of Culture, Shmt. Ambika Soni, Minister of Culture and Shri P.D. Lakhani

22nd November, 2008



Above: His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar conducts a meditation - (L to R) Kumari Uma Sharma, Ms. Ruchi Rai, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Poojya Guruji, Pt. Rajan Mishra, Pt. Sajan Mishra, and Erika Mann, Member of European Parliament

1000 sitarists perform together for World Peace



November 21, 2008, Noida: The Art of Living today hosted a historic event, Brahm Naad, where over 1000 sitarists performed together on one platform, in a first-of-its-kind concert. Slated to find its way into the Guiness Book of World records, the proceeds of this initiative are dedicated to the relief & rehabilitation of flood-ravaged Bihar.

At the event, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was also felicitated by Live Earth, which has been founded by Kevin Wall, in partnership with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, to highlight the notable work done by the Art of Living for the Mission Green Earth Stand Up Take Action 2008 – a project which envisages the plantation and nurturing of 100 million saplings, across the globe, to help reduce global warming. The evening also saw a pledge by the audience in support of the Art of Living anti-tobacco campaign which is being supported by the Ministry of Health & WHO.

Brahm Naad, conceived by the Art of Living founder and spiritual guru, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, has a two-fold purpose; to popularise Indian classical music even while uplifting its practitioners and to epitomize the universality & unifying power of music to spread the message of peace and harmony.

Says His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, "Music connects the individual to the universal spirit. Music is that rhythm & harmony that flows from the universal to the individual; from the cosmos to the finite." Stating that music uplifts the mind and body he urged the youth to take up classical music.

The music for this 1000-piece sitar orchestra is based on ancient ragas from the Gandharva Veda, namely Raga Gara, Bageshri & Hansadhwani, which conceptualize the all encompassing love for the Divine through the fascination and pull of love, the anguish of longing and the final culmination through divine union.

As a testimony to our multi-ethnic heritage and cultural vitality, sitarists from all religions, castes and sections of society, came together in this celebration of unity and harmony. These included sitarits aged 6 -70 years of age, incuding visually challenged sitarists, child prodigies, young students from renowned schools of classical music, artistes from All India Radio, senior practitioners of this art, among others.

Sitar exponents from Australia, USA, France, Abu Dhabi and almost all states across India, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi & NCR, among others, were part of this historic ensemble. Sitarists also included students from various schools and universities namely Shantiniketan, Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya (across India), Bhatkhanda Music School, Vishwabharati University, Delhi University, Banaras Hindu University, Gorakhpur University and Sangeet Kala Academy.

Present, among the audience, were eminent dignitaries including Ambika Soni, Minister of Tourism & Culture, Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma (Santoor), Raja & Radha Reddy (Kuchipudi dance), Erika Mann, Member of European Parliament, Vinod Khanna, MP, among others. This initiative is also being supported by the Ministry of Culture & Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India. Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma said, "This is a miracle happening. This has been possible due to the blessings of Sri Sri. I am privileged to be here."

When the strings of 1000 sitars were plucked in unison, all barriers, definitions and prejudices were transcended. Capturing the confluence of spirituality with music, the evening was a triumph of the brilliance of Indian classical music and a spectacular demonstration of this ancient legacy of India.

Symphony 1, 2 & 3

Symphony 1



Symphony 2



Symphony 3