Writes Krishaang B. (Divs)
On Monday 22nd June, whilst other boys were playing football on the astros and staff members were sipping their coffees in the staff room, echoes of rhythmic melodies filled the corridors. If one followed these magical tunes down the Maths Department towards the Clocktower, they would have noticed the door to the Chaplaincy wide open. And upon peeking inside, they would have been drawn in by the wondrous singing and dancing coming from the Bhajan session, run by the San膩tana Dharma Society.
During the hour, a range of boys from all year groups, as well as various teachers, congregated in the Chapel for a spectacular session of musical brilliance. The choir of boys started off with the Gayatri Mantra鈥攁 sight to behold鈥攁s they synchronised perfectly to the rhythm and began to channel the positive energy of the room. Before long, we were all up on our feet, dancing to the cries of 鈥淗are Krishna鈥� and 鈥淗ari Bol鈥�, embracing our community and truly having fun.
Boys brought a variety of instruments from home, including African djembes, manjeeras, damarus and bells. We were even treated to an incredible performance by Dr Birtles on the harmonium, and later the piano.
For those unfamiliar with Bhajan jamming, it is a popular way of bringing people together across the Dharmic faiths while enjoying the core teachings of living a good life and celebrating a loving community. Mainly aimed at younger generations, Bhajan jamming uses traditional bhajans (religious songs) and energises them into high-tempo mantras that are sung and danced to. It allows participants to connect with God and reflect on deeper aspects of life. This same feeling was perfectly captured in the Chapel, as boys forgot about looming exams and revision, instead focusing on their personal relationship with God.
Vihaan K (Divs) said, 鈥淚 really enjoyed it. It took me out of my comfort zone when leading, and it was incredible to spend time with like-minded people.鈥�
It was also wonderful to see the Chapel being used for a religious event. In recent years, religious and philosophical societies have often moved into classrooms, which has gradually diluted the Chapel’s role as a dedicated space for reflection, discussion, and community. This event served as a reminder of its true purpose.
From my perspective as an organiser, the event was a spectacular success. I received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both boys and teachers, who thoroughly enjoyed the session. Seeing us come together as a community was especially meaningful, as it allowed us to take pride in our culture and celebrate it fully.
I look forward to seeing more events like this in the future, and we are grateful to Dr Birtles for helping turn this idea into a reality. For anyone interested in similar opportunities, join the San膩tana Dharma Society every Monday during Hour in RP19.
Writes Hrim D. (Divs)
On Monday, the San膩tana Dharma Society came together for a truly memorable experience in the Chaplaincy. The room was filled with a deep spiritual energy, music, and a strong sense of shared devotion. As we immersed ourselves in these ancient traditions, the entire atmosphere seemed to transform.
The main focus of the session was the collective chanting of sacred Vedic scriptures and mantras. It was incredible to hear everyone raise their voices together in unison, singing beautiful hymns that resonated throughout the space. This musical approach to the texts did more than just teach us something new鈥攊t brought everyone closer, creating a genuine sense of peace, joy, and unity.
It was also wonderful to have Dr Birtles, Mrs Manek, and Mr Patel joining in alongside us, clearly enjoying the experience as much as the students did.
Overall, it was an incredibly uplifting session that left us all feeling inspired and grateful. We will be holding one more session before the holidays and hope to see as many people there as possible. Everyone is welcome!
Jai Shri Krishna!
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