At the vast, quiet residence of Kiddie Keep Well Campground in Edison, NJ, one who was passing by could not fail to notice the vibrant, harmonious sound of ghosh that filled the air, as the third annual Ghosh Varg was held from Saturday, April 17, 2010 to Sunday April 18, 2010. Swayamsevaks and sevikas from all over the Northeast Sambhag assembled on the Friday night preceding the varg and partook in fun-filled khel and caught up with many whom they had not seen for a long time. (Video of Final Demostration)
The purpose of varg was to advance the quality of vadan (play), learn new rachanas, and understand the importance/sanctity of ghosh. Apekshit vadaks (expected participants) for the varg included those who knew how to play at least 1 rachana (song). The thrust areas during the varg were playing rachana (compositions) with swara shuddhata (playing clean notes) and learning how to incorporate ghosh for inculcating qualities of a swayamsevak and strengthening Shakha. There were also some first timers to ghosh who had come to the varg, and were placed in a special gana (group), where they were to choose a vadya (instrument) and learn how to play it from its basic fundamentals.
The varg had a total of 59 shiksharthis and shikshaks, and 7 prabandhaks. The varg included 5 sessions for learning rachana in small groups and numerous sessions that were aimed at ghosh together, practicing sanchalan, formation abhyas, and ghosh-dand. There was also a katha on Shri Subbu Shrinivas ji, who had helped to develop ghosh, and the numerous adversities and accomplishments that he had experienced in his endeavor.
On Sunday, the samarop (concluding) session of the varg was held, where approximately 70 guests came to see the pradarshan. The prathamik gana (beginners group) consisting of 2 anaks, 11 vamshi, and 1 shank, played the rachanas that they learned with great aptitude. The main gana, consisting of 8 anaks, 4 taal vadya, 8 shankh, 12 vamshi, played various rachanas and displayed a multitude of marches and formations. The mukhya atithi Smt. Ruby Suresh ji, from Art of Living, spoke about the importance of such activities in the Hindu community; she urged all Hindu groups to work together. Shri Yelloji Mirajkar ji gave the samarop baudhik on the progression of the ghosh varg over the last three years, the importance of ghosh in Sangh work and Hindu society, and how ghosh varg is a preparation for SSV and other aspects of Sangh work. After the samarop, guests and shiksharthis were treated to a delicious lunch and played games and other events until it was time for all to vacate the premises. As the last ghosh varg built off the enthusiasm and progress of the previous varg before it, this year’s varg was no different, and we can only expect more progress from the upcoming ghosh vargs in years to come.
