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Earth Hour Kirtan Party – Saturday March 29th

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Recently I attended a really cool kirtan. It was a kirtan by candlelight in support of the Earth hour initiative where estimated 50 million people worldwide turned of their lights to make a statement on climate change and energy consumption.

On Saturday, March 29th people across the world acted together to switch off their electric lights for an hour. The event is intended to be a symbolic act to empower political leaders to act against climate change and to encourage people to seek ways to use energy more appropriately.

At the Hare Krishna temple on Falcon Street in North Sydney special kirtan was organised with acclaimed kirtan singer Carmella Baynie.

Many people attended the temple where no electric power was used in the temple room, the only illumination being the light of many candles and placed decoratively around the room. People from around Sydney met together to chant and dance.

The soft light given off by candles and lamps spread around the temple produced a very special atmosphere for the devotees and visitors. Outside in the temple forecourt a tatsy vegetarian BBQ was served throughout the evening, providing spiritual nutrition for those who came along throughout the event.

The activities ended with the evening Arati ceremony in which lamps and other objects are offered to God and shared with those present.

Vara Nayaka dasa, president of the Sydney temple, came up with the idea of blending the spiritual practice of kirtan with the idea of supporting Earth Hour. "Over one hundred people turned off their lights for an hour and came down to the temple to spend time with us, chanting, associating with devotees and sharing prasadam," Vara Nayaka said.

"Only by proper choices and responsible living can we as individuals contribute to solving a global problem," Vara Nayaka said. "We can decide to give away a some of our private comfort in order to stop this endless machine. This is something we can do if we are spiritually strong."

Earth Hour was started in Australia and is now celebrated by people from all over the world and the organisers are already preparing for the next one where they hope to involve many more people. "Make a plan to visit with us next year during Earth Hour," Vara Nayaka said.

– Antony

ABOUT CARMELLA

Carmella Anand Baynie has been singing Sacred music from an early age.

Her first solo CD - award winning Song to the Earth, was released onto the charts throughout Australia, Asia, China and Japan in 1992 to critical acclaim.

Having renounced the world of pop music, Carmella, teacher of Voice in Yoga, has dedicated her life to performing kirtan around the world and to facilitate others to discover the ecstasy of Kirtan and devotional music.

Classically trained in both eastern and Western singing, Carmella has produced a beautiful CD of sacred chants written by Vaishnava Saints, ASHRAYA is about to be released through New World music in Australia.

www.carmellavoice.com