Song & Dance

We celebrate Swami Radha's birthday (March 20th) with lightness. People make her cards and presents, we are invited to chant mantra and dance all day, and there is rich German chocolate cake for desert. After lunch I join a small group to learn the Hara Shiva Shankara dance. We get so involved, that we keep on dancing for hours until we know the entire dance.

Fabulous teacher Ashley leading the dance (me in the back)

Hara Shiva Shankara Hara Shiva Shankara She-Shanka Shekara Hara Bam Hara Bam Bam Bam Bolo (repeat) Bhava Bhayankara Girija Shankara Dhimi Dhimi Dhimi Taka Nartana Khelo (repeat)

In the evening after dishes (which leave me covered in grease and chocolate, now the dishwasher is broken), it is time for bhajans (devotional songs). The band plays and we sing. When 'our song' is played, we dance. Though I suddenly don't know the dance that well anymore, we do a nice job.

And it is an extra special day, as two new swamis have been initiated. Swami Premananda and Swami Matananada wear their blue robes, and beam with love and devotion. It truly is magic. Or, as people have been saying all day: "Swami Radha would love this!" Unfortunately she isn't in the kitchen baking some more cake, but in spirit she will always be here.

Eva & Rebecca dressed up for Swami Radha

The band, with newborn Swami Matananda on bongo's