Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is a time of joy, reflection, and celebration. This evening’s program brings together music, storytelling, rhythm, and visual art to explore some of the traditions and ideas associated with this beloved festival.

Presented through the rich musical language of Carnatic classical music from South India, the program moves through themes of light and hope, homecoming and celebration, prosperity and abundance, and the triumph of good over evil.

The evening begins with an invocatory chorus and a swara-based (musical notes) composition, allowing the music itself to set the tone. From there, ancient prayers, stories from Indian tradition, improvisation, and rhythmic conversations between instruments come together in a journey that culminates in a joyous Kerala boat song.

Whether this is your first experience with Indian classical music or a familiar tradition, we invite you to listen, explore, and celebrate with us.

Artists

Smitha K. Prasad — Lead Vocal

Prabha Vijayaraghavan — Veena

Sujith Phanse — Flute

Sudhindra Rao — Mridangam

Sandeep Hattangady — Tabla

Sampada Agarwal — Visual Arts

Invocatory Chorus –  Ira Adireddi · Sara Ambre · Neil Sarlashkar · Omkar Mohile · Anvi Bhat · Mrunmayee Joshi

About Diwali

Diwali, often called the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by millions of people around the world. While traditions and stories vary across regions and communities in India, the festival is widely associated with the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and hope over despair.

For many, Diwali is also a time of new beginnings—a time to gather with family and friends, light lamps, share food and sweets, and welcome prosperity and good fortune into the home.

One of the best-known stories associated with Diwali comes from the Ramayana, which tells of Lord Rama’s return to his kingdom of Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and his victory over Ravana. According to tradition, the people of Ayodhya illuminated the path with rows of lamps to welcome Rama home.

The lights of Diwali are both a beautiful part of the celebration and a powerful symbol—reminding us of the hope, wisdom, kindness, and joy we can bring into our own lives and communities.

Tonight’s Program

 

Invocatory Chorus

Shubham Kurutvam

The evening opens with an invocatory chorus, creating a moment of welcome and setting the stage for the musical journey ahead.

Performed by the Invocatory Chorus

Natabhairavi: From Swara to Sacred Verse 

Composer: Smitha Prasad and Manasi Prasad

This swara-based composition explores the melodic possibilities of the raga Natabhairavi through the musical language of Carnatic music.

It is followed by the shloka Jwalat Kanthi Vanhim, from Adi Shankaracharya’s Sharada Bhujangam. Together, these opening selections create a musical beginning that moves from pure melody into sacred verse.

Asato Ma Sad Gamaya

Inspired by the chants featured in Pandit Ravi Shankar’s Chants of India, this ancient Sanskrit prayer expresses a timeless aspiration:

Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya:    From untruth, lead us to truth.
Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya:   From darkness (ignorance), lead us to light (knowledge).
Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya:  From mortality (material attachment), lead us to immortality (Self Realization).

The phrase Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya—“Lead me from darkness to light”—resonates deeply with the spirit of Diwali. The prayer reminds us that the light celebrated during this festival can be understood not only as the lamps we see around us, but also as wisdom, understanding, and hope within us.

Bhajare Re Manasa

Ragam: Abheri · Talam: Adi
Composer: Mysore Vasudevacharya

One of the stories most closely associated with Diwali is the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. Following his victory over Ravana, Rama returns home to a joyful welcome, with rows of lamps illuminating the path.

Bhajare Re Manasa is a composition devoted to Lord Rama and invites the mind and heart toward devotion. This presentation also explores the improvisational traditions of Carnatic music, allowing the musicians to develop melodic ideas in the moment.

The piece culminates in a rhythmic exchange between the mridangam and tabla—two distinct percussion traditions coming together in musical conversation.

Ksheerabdi Kanyakaku

Ragam: Kurinji · Talam: Khanda Chapu
Composer: Annamacharya

This composition is in praise of Lakshmi, the goddess associated with prosperity and good fortune.

It leads naturally into the next selection, extending one of the important traditions of Diwali: welcoming Lakshmi and the blessings she represents into our homes and lives.

Followed immediately by:

Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma

Ragam: Sri · Talam: Adi
Composer: Purandara Dasa

A beloved Kannada composition, Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma is an invitation to Lakshmi to enter the home and bring her blessings.

The imagery of sweetness and richness in the composition evokes the idea of abundance. But prosperity can take many forms. It may be found in knowledge, meaningful relationships, good health, opportunity, or the simple richness of sharing life with others.

Together, these two compositions offer a musical welcome to abundance in all the forms it may take.

Kalinga Narthana Tillana

Ragam: Gambheera Natai · Talam: Adi
Composer: Oothukadu Venkata Kavi

This lively composition brings to life the story of Lord Krishna and the serpent Kaliya. According to the story, Kaliya had poisoned the waters of the Yamuna River. Krishna confronts the serpent and dances upon his many heads, ultimately subduing him and restoring safety to the river.

The story is one of courage and the triumph of good over evil—another theme that resonates with the spirit of Diwali.

Unlike many Carnatic compositions that are primarily sung, this tillana incorporates spoken rhythmic passages, adding an especially vibrant and theatrical dimension to the music.

Traditional Kerala Boat Song

The evening concludes with a traditional boat song from Kerala, sung in Malayalam.

Kerala’s boat songs are known for their infectious rhythm, energy, and sense of collective celebration. As the final selection of the evening, this piece brings together the spirit of community and shared joy that lies at the heart of so many celebrations.

We invite you to join us as we bring the evening to a joyful close!

 

With Grateful Thanks

Our heartfelt thanks to the North Carolina Museum of Art for creating this opportunity to bring the Triangle community together in celebration of Diwali.

Through initiatives such as this, the Museum creates space for communities to share their traditions, experience new art forms, and discover the many stories and cultural connections that enrich our region.

We are grateful to be part of this celebration and to share this evening of music, art, and community with you.

Happy Diwali!