SAMITI GHOSH VARG 2010
| Hindu Sevika Samiti – Kenya, held Kenya’s first ever Ghosh Varg from the 11th to 13th December 2010. The varg was held at Deendayal Bhavan, Muranga Rd. The total Sankhya for the Varg was 33 Shiksharthis. The youngest sevika was 6 years old while the oldest was 45. The Varg geet was ‘Mana Masta Fakir Dhari Hai.’ The Varg Mukhya Shikshika was Kum. Bhakti Koriya and Saha Mukhya Shikshika Kum. Neeti Soni. The Varg Baudhik Pramukh was Kum. Urvi Aggarwal. |  |
| A Ghosh Varg is a camp where the Shiksharthis (students) focus on learning how to play the various musical instruments that are taught in Samiti. The instruments that were taught in the Varg included; Vamshi (flute), Anak (side drum), Panav (base drum) and Ghosh Dand. These are the basic instruments used in a Samiti Ghosh, including other taal vadyas that are the Jhaleri and Tribhuj. |  |
| The Shiksharthis arrived at 2:00p.m on Saturday, eager to gain alot from the 3 day Varg. After an hour of settling down, the learning began. Each sevika having chosen her respective Vadya (instrument). | |
| Each morning the Shiksharthis would wake up at 5.00 a.m. After Prathasmaran and Chintansutra, there was a good yoga session where the Shiksharthis did warm up exercises and Surya Namaskars. There were various other sessions throughout the day. |  |
| There were two Shakhas: one in the morning and one in the evening. The vishays taken were Gana Samata, Vadyashaha Abhyas and Samilit Ghosh where everyone played their instruments together as one group. There was Khel between 9.00a.m and 10.00a.m where the Shiksharthis could take a break from ghosh and enjoy playing various games. | |
| In terms of ghosh abhyas there was; Vaadyashah (indoor) – the learning and practice of the various rachnas and Vaadyashah Abhyas (outdoor) where the Shiksharthis would have to carry their instruments and practise while speaking the rachnas and coordinating the feet movement accordingly. There was also an interesting session where the advanced group got to swap their current instrument to learn the basics of the other. | |
| Our pracharak, Shri Ramchandra Pandey ji was present full time in the Ghosh Varg. With his blessings, all the Shibirarthis were given special attention. Shri Pandey ji took a special gana for the Shikshikas and the advanced Ghosh vadaks during the snaan time. All present had already learnt the following rachnas: Dhwajaropanam, Shivraja, Kiran, Bhoop, Tilang, Deshkar, Kedar, Shivranjani, Masai. To add to the list Pandeyji taught Durga, Shripad and Karnataki. |  |
| There were two baudhiks in the Varg. One baudhik was taken by Shri Ramchandra Pandeji on the history and importance of ghosh, where he explained how ghosh came into existence in Sangh and the fact that playing ghosh can motivate us all. The other baudhik was taken by Kum. Bhakti Koria, ‘Shakha ek Sanjeevani’ describing the meaning and essence of shakha. There was also a charcha/workshop session where the Shiksharthis had to brainstorm on names of musical instruments, draw them and discuss the benefits of learning playing a musical instrument. Everyone learned a lot of new things from both these interesting sessions. | |
| One of the highlights of the Varg was the Jamhuri Day celebration. Kenya was celebrating its Jamhuri day (Republic Day) on the 12th of December. After the Prabhat Shakha all sevikas sang the National Anthem together. This created a great atmosphere. After Shyaam Shakha, Kum. Anita Patel took a workshop session on Kenya and also narrated the story of the road to independence for Kenya. This was followed by the Ratri karyakram, which turned out to be the best session of all. The Shiksharthis were divided into groups and were required to do a skit. The theme was Kenya. The presentations were very lively and creative, these included skits and dances. One group presented on the colour symbolizing the National Flag, the others presented the various tribes of Kenya, the Masaai market and the dances of Kenya. This was a night enjoyed by all. | |
| All in all the Varg was a success. Everyone involved learned a great amount and enjoyed the entire duration of it. The varg was concluded at 2.30p.m on Monday. The Shiksharthis while leaving were sad that it was over but on the other hand were happy knowing they had gained something. | |
| It wasn’t the end but a beginning to our dream of having a Ghosh Gana of a 100 girls and of course to many more Ghosh Vargs ahead. Report by: Urvi Aggarwal |