Thunderous applause ushers in Sri Sri

KOCHI: Thousands of people flocked to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Tuesday for the silver jubilee celebrations of the Art of Living Foundation.

The highlight of the evening was a 30-minute mohiniyattom performance by 1,000 dancers from across the state. It was a spectacular event for those who gathered at the stadium when the dancers danced to the tune of Vasudhaiva Kudumbakam’

Three different themes, including Vasudhaiva Kudumbakam, were included in the performance. Mohiniyattom was performed on a special stage measuring 18,000 sq ft, erected inside the stadium.

The flow of people began on Tuesday afternoon itself. There were people from almost all districts in the state. Long queues could be seen in front of the gates of the stadium since afternoon.

Thunderous plaudits welcomed Sri Sri Ravishankar when he entered the stadium with Governor R L Bhatia and other dignitaries. The programme started with the National Anthem by the students of Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidya Mandiram.

Sri Sri will launch Punarnava, an innovative meditation and breathing course formulated by him, on Wednesday.

Participants will get an opportunity to learn the course directly from Guruji. This is the first time that Sri Sri is directly imparting a course in Kerala.

About 200 musicians will take part in the musical symphony to be held on Wednesday. Eighty veenas, 40 violins, 25 flutes, 80 mridangams, 25 ghatoms and moharsanghs will be played together in the symphony.

Prominent playback singers in Malayalam will participate in the musical evening to be conducted by music director M Jayachandran on Thursday. The celebrations will conclude in the evening with a chendamelam by Peruvanam Kuttan Marar.