Death Enables Birth : The Drama of Earth

01 – 28 September 2020 / 2021

“Armoured, protected by their lethal masks,
As in a studio of creative Death
The giant sons of Darkness sit and plan
The drama of the earth, their tragic stage.”

Banks of Ganges, Foothills of Himalayas, Haridwar, India

Shraadh is the annual fortnight during which ceremonies are held for the souls of the deceased/ ancestors on the relevant days. Naarayani Shila is a unique place in India for that.

(Image “Cloth-Bound Registers Used to Record the Deaths and Family Details During Visits of Pilgrims at Haridwar”. Courtesy – Anu Anand Hall.)

The genealogy records of families of north India are maintained by hundreds of hereditary priests only in Haridwar. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Utah, USA maintains a digital database. When people come to Haridwar to immerse the ashes after cremation or during Shraadh, they visit their respective priests for updating their details.

During October 2015, the family of Sylvestor Stallone visited Haridwar to conduct special prayers for a departed family-member. The Narayani Shila Temple at Haridwar is the special temple where people come to pray for the departeds, especially during Shraadh, the fortnight of the deceased. Following is a video on that visit.

After this, Ramlila, a dance – drama on the life of Lord Rama,the penultimate Avatar of Lord Vishnu, is performed in 9 parts in as many days across the thousands of villages and towns by local non-artists. Ramlila is the stage-drama about Lord Rama. On the last day, called Dussehra, giant effigies of Ravana, the demon-king filled with fire-crackers are burnt.

During this month, International Literacy Day, International Translation Day, and Hindi Day are also observed.

(Image: A Scene Called ‘Shri Ram Darbar’ From the Ramlila – Lord Ram, Sita, 4 Brothers and Hanuman. Courtesy – Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra.)

FOR

Sanskrit / Hindi
Calligraphy
Photography
Visual art
Documentary
Spirituality
Performance art
New media
Linguistics
Painting
Music
Writing
Education
Yoga
Everybody
Art of Life

FACILITIES

Visiting Ganges ghats,temples, ashrams
Pilgrim interactions
Local collaborations
Exhibit
Print media coverage
Local music instruments
Conditional access to a Braille printing press
Arts mentoring
Life coaching
Drawing / writing / performing projects

TARIFF INCLUDES

En-suite room
Shared studio
Twice daily Yoga teaching
Om & mantra chanting initiation
Daily lecture & discussion
Options at other cluster-locations
3 meals, 2 herbal tea + snacks
Sachet tea/ 24hrs
Daily small basket of fresh flowers
Towels, bedding
Laundry
Ayurveda doctor visit – need basis

Important Festivals & Observations

Hartalika Teej – 01 Sep 2019 / 21 Aug 2020 / 09 Sep 2021
Ganesh Chaturthi – 02 Sep 2019 / 22 Aug 2020 / 10 Sep 2021
Rishi Panchami – 03 Sep 2019 / 23 Aug 2020 / 11 Sep 2021
Vaman Jayanti – 10 Sep 2019 / 29 Aug 2020 / 17 Sep 2021
Anant Chaturdashi – 12 Sep 2019 / 01 Sep 2020 / 19 Sep 2021
Shraadh, the fortnight of the deceased / ancestors –
Begins (full Moon) – 14 Sep 2019 / 02 Sep 2020 / 21 Sep 2021
Ends (no Moon) – 28 Sep 2019 / 17 Sep 2020 / 06 Oct 2021
Navratri, the festival of nine new nights –
Begins – 29 Sep 2019 / 17 Oct 2020 / 07 Oct 2021
1 – 29 Sep 2019 Shailputri Goddess (orange)
2 – 30 Sep 2019 Brahmacharini Goddess (white)