Birthday Celebration, exhibit and music…

We have been busy preparing for the Birthday Celebration of our spiritual teacher, and a retreat following it. It’s been different this year without our chief cook, organizer and my “partner in crime,” but we managed surprising well and everyone had a chance to help so much more this time. Except we forgot to let the balloons fly!
It was a wonderful Birthday, puja followed by lots of Kashmiri food, and afterwards the Kali Mandir Devotees, Swami Bhajanananda, and Rampriyadas (Trevor Hall) sang bhajans, and songs, one by Usha herself composed. Devahurti sang and is about to bring out a CD of her wonderful devotional songs. And we had traditional Kashmiri bhajans with Shiraz Bhat like every year. A surprise guest was Shanti Shivanti with her nada yoga music, really stunningly meditative. Doni McDaniels made a wonderful video recording of it all (view it on YouTube).
Took the opportunity for a little exhibit of my paintings in the ashram, along the walls and hallways. 100% of the proceeds are going towards the Universal Shaiva Fellowship and the preservation of the teachings of Swamij Lakshmanjoo. Two already sold, and the idea has spread… there is a plan for a fundraiser with music, bhajans, paintings and photography in September, when we’ll have another Celebration.

Contact me for more info.