The Bhakti Bar Second Event

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The Bhakti Bar's Second Event Greetings from The Bhakti Bar. Just a quick shout out that Jai will be in Palo Alto this Saturday at the Avalon Art & Yoga Center and at Spirit Rock on Sunday. All the details can be found on his website here: http://jaiuttal.com/events/. On November 14th, we had our second The Bhakti Bar Event. It was held in The Lodge at the Regency Center in San Francisco. The Room, which is 100 years old, is grand, yet warm, and feels like you’re in an 18th century regal Castle, an appropriate place to house Kirtan, especially, Jai’s Kirtan. If it isn’t a Temple, then why not a castle. I’ve included pictures throughout this email, but be sure to check out the full gallery at the end. Just click any of the pictures for a larger view. We had a super staff helping with the Bhakti Bar set up, led by Ana Claudia and Tim, otherwise known as Sita and Ram from Bhakti Fest. They had a team of yoga teachers and bhaktas led by Matt and Susan that joined in and helped us manage the evening. Cornelia created the fabric decorating before she moved back to Berlin, and we miss her. Steve Bamm offered so much support and Seva it was enlightening and set a new bar for what support means. Finally KD, created the many altars and sacred deity spaces throughout the venue, including the entrance, altar, and center stage. She also provided her bhakti dance energy, which helped to elevate the room, dancing in all four corners to lift the energy. Kilimba and Radhanath, literally just in from India, came and offered their Radiance Foods and, as always, delivered the most delicious dinners and yumminess for all. They clearly brought India back with them and cooked it into the prasad. The Super Bhakti Bar Staff One of KD’s altars We had about 250 new and old bhaktas join in the Kirtan. The room filled gradually and even the shakti bhakti ghosts took their seats. Backstage, Sridhar, visiting from LA, connected with Jai, Gaura and AKS. Jai, Gaura and AKS did a prayer and group hug just before taking the stage. Gaura Vani and AKS flew out from the East Cost having recently returned from their Australia tour. Don’t know how they keep going at the pace and travel schedule that they do. They are clearly powered by the divine with a direct chord, as can be experienced not only in their stamina, but their music, kirtan, and their beings. Such humble, lovely people on the planet. Every time I come into contact with them, my heart expands and gets warmer and warmer. Jai, Gaura Vani & AKS An embrace before the show I opened the event with a welcome to the bhaktas and shared about my journey to Kirtan and the impact it’s had on my lifeâ€"specifically focusing on Jai and how his music, his kirtan and prayer has been the single most important factor in healing my heart and my life. I shared my immense gratitude for his work, Daniel Paul’s tabla and life’s work, and how grateful I feel every time I hear their kirtan, listen to Jai’s CDs, or sing my own kirtan. My heart fills with gratitude for their offerings. I cant say it enough, there is only one Jai, and there is nothing like Jai’s Kirtan. Sharing my journey and expressing my gratitude to Jai Gaura Vani & AKS and C.C. White I am still not sure, and I need to ask Gaura Vani, why is it “and As Kindred Spirits” why not Gaura Vani and Kindred Spirits, why the ” As” part. Hmmm… Well I’ll find out. For now its the trickier path of ” And As Kindred Spirits” and we end up shortening it to AKS. No matter what their ‘name’, they always bring the most devotional, musical love, dance, education and kirtan. The elated Gaura Vani Ananta completely immersed I finished speaking and played a Rumi poem that Coleman Barks recites, track #2 from the “I Want Burning” CD titled This We Have Now. “This is not imagination. What we have now is not grief or joy or elation, or a judging state, those come and go. This is the Presence that doesn’t.” After the poem, Gaura Vani and AKS began their Kirtan. What a journey. Gaura is so humble as he plays and leads Kirtan, sharing and switching off the lead. He took us on the sweetest ride and infused it with humor, education, chant, and love. At times he had us in deep contemplation, at times in ecstatic joy, and at times the entire room was laughing from his kind and loving sense of humor. After Gaura, Acyuta Gopi took the lead and slowly wound us up over the hills and into the heavens. What a powerful voice, what a unique voice and what a lovely kirtan. I am always blown away by her voice and how strongly she delivers her prayer. Following Acyuta, her brother Ananta came and lead his Ananta Radhe Radhe, just as he plays Murdange, so does he sing and lead with harmonium and voice. To the stars we went with Ananta, Ray on guitar delivering spacious and timeless riffs. Jahnaki and her singing along with Jhanavi and her angelic singing and violin. C.C. White sang out and shared a solo about Peace. Hearing C.C. White and witnessing her song is always a blessing. After two hours of Gaura Vani and As Kindred Spirits, it was time for Jai and Daniel to start their set. All of Gaura and AKS joined Jai and Daniel, Joss Jaffe, Ben Leinbeck, along with Tina Malia, Sandy Cressman, C.C. White and Sandy Griffith. Jhanavi Acyuta Gopi C.C. White Acyuta Gopi, Ananta, C.C. White and Jhanavi Jai got the house rocking with some songs from his Brazil, Kirtan, Indian fusion Thunder Love album. If you have not heard this album, it is truly one of the great works from these past yearsâ€"a must have. Thunder Love is like the next generation of Jai’s Mondo Rama, Shiva Station and his Pagan Love Orchestra, which are some of my favorite albums of all time. Daniel Paul also cranked out strong support with his harmonica, surprising us once again with his humble yet masterful musical talents. Just when you think you have seen it all from Daniel Paul, out comes something new, and this time it was his harmonica playing. Jai took us into some of the best and sweetest Kirtan ever. Like the master that he is, he weaved a tapestry of Kirtan and prayer and took us on his journey which ultimately becomes our own journey to God and prayer. He got the entire house up standing and dancing like a roomful of whirling dervishes that lost their twirl yet had their devotion. Myself and everybody in the room were up and dancing ecstaticallyâ€"twirling, singing, clapping, praying and smiling uncontrollably. Ananta Jai takes the stage Daniel and Jai Jai and Tina Malia At one point Gaura Vani, Jhanaki and KD were behind Jai dancing in a line and all of us in the audience starting dancing the same line dance, and it moved into an offering dance with a humble bow to Jai and to God with our gratitude. Jai banging on his harmonium with his hands, Daniel drumming along at wharp speed, all of the singers and Kindred Spirits playing, Ananta slamming the murdanga, and the dancing as if in the mirror of Gaura Vani. It was beautiful to witness how the movement and sound found its pattern, deep prayer, and relationship…from chaos, out came order and a deep dancing prayer. The pictures can articulate these moments. Dancing to the Bhakti Gratitude to Jai and the others Jai and Daniel bringing us home Taking it all in Hare Krishna and Ram Bolo lead us into the end of the night at 1 am. That is to say, Jai had given all, as had we, and there was nothing left of any of us, but big smiles, deep silence, fast beating open hearts, deep breath, an ecstatic energy filled the room and remained silent as we sat quietly in and as The Presence that Rumi spoke of in the beginning of the evening. Jai thanked everyone and the hugs started going round to those near and dear, and not so near and dear. Everyone gathered, bought Bhakti Bar t-shirts, Jai and Gaura CDs, shared conversations about the night and upcoming events, and hung out and bathed in the love that was now The Lodge. As the last folks left, our group of hard workers from The Bhakti Bar team helped the musicians to their cars with their equipment, and then started to do the tear down of the room. It took about two hours and at 3 am the last of us vacated the room and headed for home. Post-Kirtan Bliss Can’t contain this love As I drove home, which was a hotel because And As Kindred Spirits was staying at my house and there was not enough room for all, Let There Be Sky played from Jai’s Thunder Love album in my car. I felt washed over with deep gratitude filling my heart, and I thought to myself, how lucky am I…how lucky we all are to be able to come together, share our hearts and bask in this loveâ€"praying together, healing our hearts and being Bhakti. Yes. Gratitude to Jai, gratitude to God, gratitude to life. And again, I was reminded what The Bhakti Bar is all about: sharing love and bhakti energy. Bolo Ram Bolo Ram…. I wish you each a very happy and healthy Holiday and New Year. Again, Jai will be in Palo Alto this Saturday and Spirit Rock on Sunday. Check his website for time and details: http://jaiuttal.com/events/. We are working on a DVD and CD of The Bhakti Bar Second Event and hope to have it online for you in the New year. Much bhakti love to you all. Thanks for coming together. See you soon. Jai Sri Radhe Radhe! Hari Aum, Andrew You can always edit your email preferences at www.thebhaktibar.com/signup/.