12th Annual RAWA and Prabha't Sam'giit Program

by Ac. Priyashivananda Avt.

I would like to share with you all very good and positive news. The four month-long RAWA and Prabhat Samgiit competition held all over east and north-eastern states came to a successful culmination with final held in our Tiljala campus on 28th September 2003. It was the 12th cultural competition on the occasion of the 21st anniversary of Prabhat Samgiit and by His grace was a tremendous success given the odds we are facing at the moment.

As you know Prabhat Samgiit is the most precious gift Baba has offered to humanity. It heralds the dawn of new era with a new culture, a new civilization and in fact, a “neo-renaissance” with the potential to build a new world He had so dearly cherished. You also know how many golden years of His life He spent to compose these songs only to kindle the flame of devotion in every heart and lead humanity to life, light and fulfillment. To propagate and popularize His songs for the welfare of humanity is our collective responsibility.

Fortunately enough, He did not allow as to sit over this huge treasure for long. Twelve years ago, the idea dawned in our minds to popularize Prabhat Samgiit through music competitions. It started in 1991, on a modest scale, not noticed much by many. After twelve years it has now turned into the most popular event of our mission involving a huge number of, music-loving people including children youth and their parents, friends and family members. And most significantly 99% of them are non-margiis. Today people have cared to identify RAWA with Prabhat Samgiit and vice-versa and this in turn, has enhanced the image of Ananda Marga considerably.

Over the years, there has been constant surge in the popularity of PS competition. While last year, the competition was held in as many as 40 pre-final centers; the number went up to 52 this year. The total number of competitors in different disciplines (song, dance and art) in all the pre-final level put together last year was about 8000. This year the number has gone up to about 11000 indicating a considerable increase in the popularity of PS at the local levels. Prizes were given to all those who stood first, second and third in the pre-finals. Organising these competitions became possible due to the months of hard work put in by hundreds of Margiis in all these centers in addition to their financial support. Almost one hundred dadas and didis were also actively involved for over four months in making this massive program a great success. Our continuous effort for the last 12 years has created a great awareness about PS and RAWA in the eastern and north-eastern states. The seriousness with which the artists participated in the local competitions and the trouble they took to come to Kolkata for the finals spending huge amount (many participants from the north-east had to come by flight) is an indication of their attraction towards PS and RAWA. The participants also had to make months of preparation learning PS and perfecting the Mudras of dance before the pre-finals.


Every year first, second and third prize winners from all these pre-finals would come to Kolkata for the final competition. Due to the increasing number of participants this time only the first and second prize winners were allowed in the final competition. Competitors who numbered over 900, along with their parents, dance and music teachers thronged in from far off regions like Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Jharkahand. Added to it were those coming from all parts of West Bengal. The total gathering is estimated to be over 3000. They stayed with us, moved around, interacted and had closer understanding of Ananda Marga than before. In order to cope with the increasing number of competitors, the competition was held in both dada’s and didi’s places. As many as 20 venues were arranged with 40 judges doing the evaluation job helped and aided by about 200 officials and volunteers. This assured that there was no interruption or dislocation anywhere. All auxiliary departments viz food, accommodation etc functioned smoothly giving the whole event the look of a big music festival.

The most significant aspect of this year’s competition is the introduction of several awards like RAWA Ratna (Jewel of RAWA) Tri Ratna (Three Jewels) and Nava Ratnas (Nine Jewels). For each discipline from each age group (there were five age groups) 9 candidates were selected on the basis of their performance. The topmost candidate was awarded the prestigious title of RAWA Ratna. The candidates securing second and third places were designated as Tri Ratna and the rest six as Nava Ratna. This created a tremendous stir and enthusiasm among the competitors. It was evident during the prize distribution ceremony held in a jam-packed dhyanmandir (Dada’s Place) in the evening where 150 glittering prizes, medals and certificates were given away to successful candidates. We hope that the introduction of these awards would play a significant role in accelerating the popularization process of PS in the years to come.

The most striking feature of this year’s competition was the huge attendance of the competitors, their parents and the members of general music-loving public in the backdrop of the recent happenings and the adverse publicity they received in the media. This proved that people chose to defy these lies and falsehood deliberately spread to mislead them about Ananda Marga. This also proved that Ananda Marga and more so Prabhat Samgiit is deeply ingrained in their minds and they are not prepared to move away from it whatever be the anti-propaganda.

Watching the hundreds of solo and group dancers of different age group dancing and expressing the divine feelings of Prabhat Samgiita through Mudras (postures symbolizing inner feelings given by Lord Shiva), the hundreds of competitors singing PS throughout the day and about 300 budding artists portraying the universal message of Prabhat Samgiita into works of art, one could hear the footfall of an approaching “neo-renaissance” which would transform this world of malice, hatred and spite into one of harmony, amity and fraternity. We only hope that, by His grace, that day comes sooner and not later. Our task is to do everything to make this happen at the earliest.