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 The launch of ABHAI Delhi chapter November 26, 2022 The launch of the Delhi Shaakha of ABHAI (Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India) was successfully completed on 20th November 2022 at the Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi. This initiative which had been planned a couple of years back itself had to be postponed because of the pandemic. The main aim behind this initiative of ABHAI is to bring the fraternity of Bharatanatyam artistes from all over under the umbrella of ABHAI to act on behalf of all artistes and represent the artistes in important bodies as a unified community. Unity is strength. Hence the vision of the founder of ABHAI, Guru (Late) K.N. Pakkirisami Pillai is being taken forward by the successive committees so that the goals for which the fraternity was brought together is achieved.  Roja Kannan, Saroja Vaidyanathan, Geeta Chandran The ABHAI network has spread its roots far and wide all over the world and it is good news that there are over 3500 members in ABHAI currently and the numbers are growing every day. The welfare schemes for artistes which is one of the main aims of ABHAI are being carried forward in full force by Team ABHAI. The Monthly Medical Assistance Scheme ensures monthly remittances for more than 15 old and indigent artistes to help them take care of their medicines. The hardships that hundreds of artistes faced during the floods in 2008 and 2015 and the complete chaos that the pandemic brought on the artistes were occasions when the ABHAI team acted as a big force to help reach out to the artistic fraternity and make a small difference in their lives. Almost 750 artistes were helped with funds to re-settle their lives and close to 300 artistes were helped by the ABHAI Akshayapathram Scheme through which they were provided rice, groceries and other essentials to a number of artistes affected by the pandemic. This relief work was carried out in all the Shaakhas of ABHAI ensuring that artistes no matter where they were located geographically were reached out to. In the absence of any assistance from the State or Central Governments what ABHAI could achieve for the artistes was a big feather in its cap. The inaugural of the Delhi Shaakha thus marked a milestone in the history of ABHAI which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. The function commenced with an invocation by Uma Sathyanarayanan, executive committee member of ABHAI. This was followed by the welcome address by the President of ABHAI, Roja Kannan. Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan, Founder-President of Ganesa Natyalaya then formally launched ABHAI Delhi Shaakha and offered her felicitations. She recollected her association with ABHAI which was almost 30 years and assured her cooperation and support to take things forward in ABHAI, Delhi. Geeta Chandran, Founder President of Natya Vriksha, coordinator of the Delhi Shaakha, then elaborated on the vision of ABHAI and the different ways in which the whole fraternity of artistes can benefit from being in ABHAI.  The senior artistes and Gurus from Delhi were then felicitated. Dr. Jayalakshmi Eashwar, a very senior acharya in Delhi, shared her experiences at ABHAI. Vice President Priya Murle then proposed a vote of thanks. The whole function was crisply compered by Ragini Chandershekar. The performances of the students from various schools then commenced. Students of Ganesa Natyalaya came in first after which students of Jayalakshmi Eashwar performed a vibrant kirtanam. The ABHAI Chennai Executive Committee members along with the President next presented the Thanjavur Quartet varnam in Bhairavi ragam and rupaka thalam. This was greeted with a very good response from the discerning audience of Delhi. After the varnam students of Ragini Chandershekar presented a beautiful kirtanam which was followed by a Thillana by the Natya Vriksha students of Geeta Chandran. The performances ended with all the artistes coming together on stage and reciting the Mantram "Poornamadha Poonamidhim" from the Rig Veda. The inaugural function thus ended on an auspicious and meditative note. |
