My music journey began at the age of 5 when I would accompany my parents and sister to Chinmaya Mission in San Jose every Sunday morning. I participated in the Balavihar, Gita chanting and Swaranjali classes. I strongly believe that this immersion led to my grounding in Indian culture and values. I was taught to pay attention ragam, shruti, talam and clarity in pronunciation of words from various languages as we worked through different songs in Prema Aunty led Swaranjali classes. Balavihar classes introduced me to a world of stories with various characters and values from the ancient Indian literature. As part of Swaranjali choir, I sang at the beginning of all festivities at Sandeepany, San Jose.
I later took formal training in Carnatic music under the guidance of Smt Jayanthi Umesh and later from Smt Brinda Manikavasakan. Prema aunty from Swaranjali continued to guide and nurture my singing.
Listed below are a few of my music performances.
Bajamanasa Vigneswaram
My first music solo concert
I gave a hour long concert in Sanatana Dharma Kendra on the occasion of Ganesh Chathurti in 2018.
Ramachandram Bhavayaami
Check out others items from this concert.
This is one of our family’s favorite bhajans. Set to Brindavani Ragam, and Adi Talam, the song praises Lord Narayana known by names and forms as Rama, Hari, Govinda, Shyamaa. I performed this for Konkani Sammelan in 2016 in Atlanta, GA
I danced to this bhajan as I concluded my Rangapravesam performance.
In 2014, CMSJ Swaranjali group performed the Sampradhyaa bhajans and kritis for the new building inauguration for Chinmaya Mission in San Jose. I am seated on the front row - third girl from right in white dress.