Like every year, I was very keen of attending Kakada (Kakad Aarti) this year. However till now I could not attend one. Couple of days back called Shrikant Bhaiya from Mulkhed to find out that it's their family's turn to host the Aarti on Fri, 20 Nov and I was delighted.
Today, morning enthusiastically I was up by 5 and set for Mulkhed village. As I was approaching the Vitthal Madir, I could hear enthralling sounds of tals and bhajan.
As I entered it was full of energy. Everybody's faces were so happy. These are days of heavy farm-work due to rice cutting. Every villagers day is very hectic and physically tiring. In spite of that everybody is up and ready by 5 AM in the temple. Here anyone can sing, there is no criteria\qualification. Whoever was singing and also on everyone's faces there was a Aanand (I specifically using this word as 'happiness' word does not carry the exact emotion) which has sprung out out Bhakti. A sense of satisfaction after all the hard-work. Not only elderly people children from age 2-3 years were also up there and were enthusiastically joining the satsang. The Tukaram \ Eknath bhajan's are so simple, sweet and with very deep profound meaning. During this event, they do puja of veena first before "veenekari" (who is holding the veena), as music has emerged through it and he is just the medium. There are different rituals in this which has wonderful meaning behind it.
During last few particular bhajan's girls played "phugadi". This aarti goes for a month long and on each day one family from village get chance to host it. This creates a sense of belongingness as a one village family. I was also asked to sing one "ovie" (stanza) and one of the lines was "kakad aarti mazya krishna sahbhagiya..." along with my friend Krishna I am doing kakad aarti...I felt so fortunate :). I love the overall atmosphere, energy and I guess this can be experienced only in India. Feeling proud and lucky to be in India. This ancient culture is there in Villages and needs to be preserved. This adds melodious flavor to the life. India truly lies in Villages.
As I entered it was full of energy. Everybody's faces were so happy. These are days of heavy farm-work due to rice cutting. Every villagers day is very hectic and physically tiring. In spite of that everybody is up and ready by 5 AM in the temple. Here anyone can sing, there is no criteria\qualification. Whoever was singing and also on everyone's faces there was a Aanand (I specifically using this word as 'happiness' word does not carry the exact emotion) which has sprung out out Bhakti. A sense of satisfaction after all the hard-work. Not only elderly people children from age 2-3 years were also up there and were enthusiastically joining the satsang. The Tukaram \ Eknath bhajan's are so simple, sweet and with very deep profound meaning. During this event, they do puja of veena first before "veenekari" (who is holding the veena), as music has emerged through it and he is just the medium. There are different rituals in this which has wonderful meaning behind it.
During last few particular bhajan's girls played "phugadi". This aarti goes for a month long and on each day one family from village get chance to host it. This creates a sense of belongingness as a one village family. I was also asked to sing one "ovie" (stanza) and one of the lines was "kakad aarti mazya krishna sahbhagiya..." along with my friend Krishna I am doing kakad aarti...I felt so fortunate :). I love the overall atmosphere, energy and I guess this can be experienced only in India. Feeling proud and lucky to be in India. This ancient culture is there in Villages and needs to be preserved. This adds melodious flavor to the life. India truly lies in Villages.
