The parade for Jagannath is one of the few processions that take place along North Beach in Durban during the year. Devotees take full advantage of the spacious, ocean breezy area which is highlighted by three gorgeous chariots hand-pulled with love.
At the time of the massive wheels rolling down the street I am engaged back at the Chatsworth temple with drama rehearsals. Once the practice is over I’m driven to the festival site and to the Bhakti Cloud Tent for conducting a session on “Dance Master”. That is a place that really does hop. Djembes and Mridangas are resounding, triggering all the dancers, young and old, black, white, brown. The clouds of bhakti definitely set in with so much pulsating, thumping, and clapping while chanting. The chairs and mats were set aside to make space for the most exhilarating kirtan. All was sweet, even the sweat.
My main engagement, however, for me was the drama presentation, “Shiva and Sati”. There is a unique aspect to our theatre rendition. Sri Rama is a filmmaker from Pretoria, South Africa’s capital, and he has incorporated a large screen depiction of Sati’s being burnt through her yogic power, otherwise how can we effectively demonstrate a realistic fire on the stage? The effect on the screen was visually compelling. The audience was in awe.
I was very pride of our crew. There were few flaws. I mingled with the crowd after the performance. The feedback was very positive. It was as pleasant as the favourable air currents gracing the faces coming off the seaside surface.
Source: https://www.thewalkingmonk.net/post/at-the-ocean-side
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