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MAHAGAMI GURUKUL offers a value based training
under Guru-shishya tradition in Odissi and Kathak Dance forms.
Residential facility is available for the outstation students.
Local students are also encouraged to stay in the hostels
in order to facilitate early morning individual 'riyaaz' of
the disciples. The lush green Gurukul campus wakes up with
the drone of Tanpura, chanting of mnemonic syllables punctuated
with resonant sound of Pakhawaj and 'ghungroos'.
Learning in the Gurukul Campus
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Gurukul Sewa
Informal moments of Gurukul Inmates
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 The
training at MAHAGAMI GURUKUL is focussed on the manifold evolution
of each disciple not just as an art seeker, but also as a
human being. Workshops, lectures, educational and concert
tours, informal baithaks and AV presentations are frequently
arranged for the disciples in addition to the regular training.
The Gurukul campus, aptly named RTA (meaning truth / cosmic
order) has a holistic approach with the Ayurvedic diet program
and Nature therapies including Shrirodhara and Ayurveidc massage
for the inmates. SADHANA Gurukul camp is organised every summer
for outsiders to facilitate training and exposure to the Gurukul
ambience - peaceful, inspiring and harmonious with nature.
ART FORMS
GURUKUL EVENTS
SADHANA
Annual Intensive Training Gurukul camp
Vocal Class
SADHANA is the annual Intensive training Gurukul camp organized by MAHAGAMI every summer from 1st May to 15th May. The camp offers a multi-dimensional training for the art seekers. Starting with a health check up, the day starts with Yoga at 6 am followed by Dance, Music, Instruments, Sanskrit, Vedic chants, Painting, Pottery... The schedule also includes Audio- Video sessions like films and video recordings of the eminent artists and their creations. The camp offers guest lectures on ancient Indian valued topics like, Ancient History, Ayurveda, Theatre, etc. An Ayurvedic diet is provided to all participants specially designed keeping in mind the calorie intake and the training schedule. This 15-day intensive training is being organized every year since 1999 and is open to all art aspirants of age above 10 years. SADHANA also enfolds interesting topics like Stargazing, Ancient Indian Science, Shadow Puppetry, Krishna Gatha, Slide Shows And Lectures on Ancient Heritage Sites Of India by renowned Historians, Hasya Yoga, Films And Lectures on Environment Awareness, Calligraphy, Brain - Teaser Games to improve concentration and focus, Music Appreciation Sessions, Sessions On Musicology And Etymology- all this and much more involving lot of group activities and innovative fieldwork sensitively blended in the training schedule from 6 am to 8 pm. For SADHANA, many eminent artists from all over India had been invited to teach, interact and perform.
SADHANA - In Retrospect:
SADHANA was conceptualised by Parwati Dutta (Kathak and Odissi performer & Guru and Director of MAHAGAMI). She is the academic head of the training program and teaches both Kathak and Odissi to the Sadhakas. SADHANA is being conducted every summer since 1999. In these years, SADHAKAs (SADHANA students) have had the privilege to receive guidance from prominent artists who contributed to this camp. Gurus like Pt. Birju Maharaj (Kathak), Guru Sadanam Balakrishnan (Kathakali), Guru Banmali Maharana (Mardal Guru, Bhubaneshwar), artists like Shri Shashadhar Acharya (Chhau), Shri. Uday Bhawalkar (Dhrupad Exponent, Pune) Smt. Sombala Satle, (Dhrupad exponent, Khairagad) . Session on Odissi music conducted by a team of artists from Orissa, Shri. Udayan Indurkar (Scholar and famous Historian, Pune), Sessions on “Flutes From The World” (by Shri Ajit Soman), Late Pt. S.B. Deshpande (Musicologist and Guru, Aurangabad), Pt. Vasant Rao Ghorpadkar (Senior Pakhawaj Guru, Pune) etc were held for the students to assimilate the vast scope of arts and the essence for its manifestation.
Along with an idea to inculcate the values and vision of our Indian culture, SADHANA also aims at introducing rare art forms. Sessions on rare art forms are held every year to facilitate the SADHAKAs to a wider perspective of learning. In the past, more than 5 different percussion instruments from different regions of India viz. Edakya from Kerala, Pakhawaj from North India, Mridangam from South India, Mardal from Orissa and Tabla have been demonstrated also introducing Sadhakas to the technique of playing these instruments and the traditional theoretical concepts related to it.
Features of the camp:
The camp primarily aims at creating a full domain of arts around the sadhaka with a holistic approach where the sadhaka can essentially feel the artistic element around and within him. The intensive training camp rejuvenates the participants and takes them back to the ancient times where the shishya was given an integrated education for enhancing his vision and understanding. The whole concept of the camp from Ayurvedic diet to the sessions can enfold the participant to rediscover his creative skills. An important aspect of this camp includes Gurukul Seva where Sadhakas offer their services to the Gurukul voluntarily shedding off their inhibitions and understanding the importance of work as an offering and dignity of labor.
Daily Schedule:
The camp is conducted for 14 hours daily with 5 breaks during the day. The 'Sadhakas' (camp inmates) report at 5.30 am at the dining cottage (parnakuti) where herbal tea is served.
Yoga & meditation - 6 to 7 am; Gurukul Sewa - 7 to 7.30 am; Breakfast - 7.30 am; Dance practice / training - 8 to 9.45 am; break (health drink) - 9.45 am; vocal / sanskrit / mantras / heritage / other lectures - 10 to 12 noon; 12 to 2 pm - lunch & rest 2 to 4 pm - visual arts (painting / sculpture / pottery / textile / calligraphy / puppetry, etc); 4 pm - break (health drink / snack) 4.30 to 6 pm - percussion / instruments / Screenings of Av or documentaries; 6 to 7.30 pm - dance class; 7.30 pm - dinner
Vegetarian food is served to the participants. Health check-up is conducted in beginning of camp to realise the fitness of the Sadhakas. Accomodation is on sharing basis (4-6 persons in one room). Geysers, coolers, filtered water, round-the-clock security is provided. Hospital, banks, medical shops, Telephone booths are within the campus. Participants with any ailment (physiological / psychological) or undergoing any treatment should report about this at the time of registration. Applicants should be prepared for the training schedule and ensure that they have the required stamina and focus in order to benefit from the training camp. Visitors can meet the participants only between 8 pm to 9 pm at the visitors' zone. Mobile phone are strictly prohibited during the camp. Participants can receive calls from their family after dinner at the MAHAGAMI office.
Join the Camp:
Any art enthusiast above 10 years of age can join the camp. The last date for the registrations is 15th April 2010. Auditions for SADHANA will be conducted for participants with no prior training in any art form. MAHAGAMI office could be contacted between 9 am – 8 pm for availability of registration forms. Or, the forms could be downloaded from the official website of MAHAGAMI. www.mahagami.org
Tabla Class
Pottery Class
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DRISHTIKON
Lecture Series
Drishtikon is the lecture series conceived with an idea to
create an understanding of finer aspects of the performing
arts. The series encompasses lecture and discussion on specific
topics concerned with a particular art form. The invited expert
or scholar expresses his viewpoint on the concerned subject
giving a deeper insight on the lesser known aspects of the
performing tradition. The lecture series also hopes to take
up peripheral topics like stage designing, light designing,
sound recording and production, art journalism, linguistics,
drama, harmonics, etc.
Drishtikon - first session ('Tyagaraja Kritis' - Dr. Nookala
Chinna Satyanarayana, Hyderabad)
Drishtikon - second session ('Abhinaya in Kathak' - Guru Rohini
Bhate, Pune)
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