09.10.2024
Maharishi Nicholas Roerich. Festival at the Roerich Estate (Naggar, Kullu, HP, India)
For approximately two decades, Nicholas Roerich and his family resided and conducted their work in Naggar. During his lifetime, the Estate became the focal point for Russian-Indian friendship and collaboration. The ceremony of raising the national flags of India and Russia and the Banner of Peace, which has been held for many years during festivals at the IRMT near the Roerich House, symbolises the spiritual closeness of the two great peoples in their aspiration to the future, to the construction of a new world based on beauty, knowledge and love. In attendance at this year's ceremony were Ms Torul S. Ravish, Deputy Commissioner of Kullu District – cum - Director of the IRMT; H.E. Denis E. Alipov, Ambassador of Russia to India; and Mrs Natalia N. Cherkashina, Vice-President of the International Centre of the Roerichs (ICR) – cum - Director of the Non-Governmental Museum named after Nicholas Roerich (Moscow).
As a sign of deepest respect to Nicholas Roerich and his wife Helena Roerich, flower garlands were laid on their bronze busts, installed five years ago under a Himalayan cedar tree near the entrance to the Estate.
An exhibition of paintings by Ms Mira Kudryashova (Russia-India), entitled 'Peaks of Spirit', was inaugurated on the exhibition stands of the IRMT summer café. The exhibition combined picturesque images of the Himalayas with mythical subjects and the motif of spiritual quest. The images of ancient sages seated on the slopes of the Himalayas, a celestial city suspended above the peaks, and the transparent silhouettes of mountain spirits amidst the eternal snows engross the audience in a world of legends and profound spiritual transformation.
An exhibition of paintings entitled "Artists Unite" was inaugurated on the premises of the IRMT Green Theatre. The exhibition was presented by the participants of a workshop organised by Mr Prabhinder Lal, the artist, curator & organiser, head of Artfort (Chandigarh), and Ms Harsh Inder Lumba, the artist (Ministry of Culture, Delhi), art workshop coordinator. The plein air opened on October 6 with a traditional collective painting, on which all the participants left their "artistic autographs" under the sign of the Banner of Peace. The Banner of Peace became the unifying symbol of the workshop, which was attended by artists from India, Malaysia, and Russia.
One of the most significant events of the celebration was the inauguration of the exhibition 'Master's Universe' of the International Centre of the Roerichs (Moscow). The jubilee exhibition project commenced in March at the Russian House in New Delhi. Subsequently, in early September, the exhibition opened in Shimla at the Lalit Kala Art Gallery in the Gaiety Theatre, where the main guests at the opening ceremony in Shimla were His Excellency Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, and Mr Alexander V. Stetsenko, Vice-President of the International Centre of the Roerichs (Moscow). The exhibition was inaugurated at the Roerich Estate by the Russian Ambassador His Excellency Denis Alipov, and the Head of the Kullu Administration Ms Torul S. Ravish.
The Vice-President of the ICR, Mrs Natalia Cherkashina, extended a welcoming address to the assembled guests, after which Olga Karaseva, an employee of the ICR, lead a guided tour of the exhibition. The exhibition, which includes reproductions of Nicholas Roerich's paintings, information banners and archive photographs, provides insight into the life trajectory and creative output of the Roerichs. A particular focus of the exhibition is the collaboration between Helena and Nicholas Roerich and the Mahatmas, the spiritual teachers of India. In collaboration with the Gurus, Helena Roerich composed the Teachings of Living Ethics, also known as Agni Yoga. This text elucidates the unity of humanity, and the Cosmos, as well as the fundamental cosmic laws and the current phase of cosmic evolution of humankind. In his own words, Nicholas Roerich referred to his paintings as an 'artistic commentary' on the principles of Living Ethics.
The celebrations, held in honour of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Nicholas Roerich – a renowned Russian artist, scientist, and thinker – took place on October 9th at the Himalayan Estate of the Roerich Family. The celebration of the Roerichs' birthday commenced in accordance with tradition with Shanti-puja, a sacred Hindu ritual, which was performed on the place of Samadhi of Nicholas Roerich by the esteemed pujari, Shri Jaidev Acharya. A multitude of guests from Russia, India, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Israel and other countries assembled near the memorial Stone of Nicholas Roerich at the site of his cremation to pay homage to the memory of the Russian man, to whom India bestowed the title of 'Maharishi' during his lifetime. He was a profound visionary and saint whose actions were prophetic and will benefit humanity for generations to come.
The 150th anniversary of the Russian Maharishi was marked by exhibitions by Indian and Russian artists that opened that day at the IRMT.
Mrs Sadhna Sangar and Mrs Simrit Luthra, esteemed artists hailing from Chandigarh, have previously showcased their artistic creations at the Roerich Trust on numerous occasions. Their works hold the viewer's attention through the use of vibrant colours and an underlying sense of harmony. Sadhna Sangar integrates her creative output with her role as president of “We” group of Indian Contemporary Women Artists. Additionally, she is a member of the Punjab State Government's Arts Council (Kala Bhavan, Chandigarh). Her paintings, characterised by a palette of snowy blues and vivid hues, evoke the grandeur of the Himalayan landscape and symbolise the aspiration of the soul for spiritual ascent, ultimate love and freedom. Simrit Luthra's paintings portray the aesthetic appeal and transcendental quality of spiritual subjects, as well as the allure of natural elements. These include the vibrant hues of flowers and the verdant hue of grass, which convey a sense of tranquility and life force.
An exhibition of local craftsmen, members of the women's association from the village of Chinalti, was inaugurated in the vicinity of the Green Theatre. The knitted toys, dolls, napkins and souvenirs aroused a sincere interest and admiration from the guests and participants of the Festival, who were impressed by the creativity and talent of their authors.
In conclusion, in accordance with the established tradition, the Russian participants of the Festival, volunteers of the International Centre of the Roerichs, presented an exhibition-fair at the ground of Green Theatre. Those who wished were able to view a variety of traditional Russian crafts and sample a selection of Russian baked goods, including gingerbread, rushekas, and sweets.
On the festive occasion, a working meeting was convened between Ms Torul S. Ravish, Mr Denis Alipov, and Mrs Natalia Cherkashina. The meeting was held in the presence of the Indian and Russian Curators of the IRMT. The primary avenues for future growth of the IRMT were deliberated, and a preliminary plan of action was delineated. At the conclusion of the meeting, Ms Torul S. Ravish was presented with commemorative gifts on behalf of the Russian Embassy and the ICR (Moscow).
Professor Meeta Narain from the Centre for Russian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi), presented her recently published book, entitled 'Roerich's World in Poetry', which has been made available in three languages: the book is published in Russian, English and Hindi. The collection, which is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the celebrated artist and features illustrations of his paintings, includes articles by the author and several poems by Nicholas Roerich, translated by the author into English and Hindi.
Mr Suresh Kumar, the Indian Curator of the IRMT, and Mrs Larisa Surgina, the Russian Curator of the IRMT, an employee of the ICR (Moscow), extended a warm welcome to the guests from diverse countries who had gathered at the Roerich Estate on this festive occasion. They also offered their heartfelt congratulations to all present on the anniversary of the great Russian Maharishi Nicholas Roerich.
The principal guest at the Festival, Russian Ambassador to India H.E. Denis Alipov, observed that for three decades the International Roerich Memorial Trust, with the backing of the Government of Himachal Pradesh and the Kullu District Administration, has been engaged in the preservation and promotion of the heritage of the Roerich family in Naggar. Mr. Alipov emphasized that much was done, yet more to be done - there is still a need to transform the IRMT into an internationally renowned cultural hub.
A notable feature of the formal programme was the conferral of commemorative medals, entitled '150 Years of Nicholas Roerich', which were established by the International Centre of the Roerichs (Moscow). The ceremony was presided over by Mrs Natalia Cherkashina, Vice-President of the ICR. The medals were bestowed upon representatives of Russia and India, who have made significant contributions to the preservation and dissemination of the Roerich family heritage.
The ceremony was opened by Mrs Tamara Merges, head of the ICR volunteer group and coordinator of the jubilee International festival of children's and youth creativity, Roerichs' Realm, organised by the ICR (Moscow). Pupils from educational establishments in the Kullu Valley and from the Helena Roerich Academy of Arts participated in the painting competition, held at the IRMT on 5 October, and in the essay competition. The young artists and writers were presented with commemorative prizes and gifts, as well as sincere best wishes for future creative success.
The young singers and dancers, students of the Helena Roerich Academy of Arts, and their teachers Mr Anshul Kumar, Mr Anup Kumar, Mrs Mamta Thakur and Mrs Sapna Thakur, prepared a series of vibrant musical compositions for the Festival. The performance of fiery folk dances, modern and patriotic songs, and other such pieces once again served to rekindle the love for the expressive and diverse Indian culture in the hearts of all those present. Furthermore, when Indian children sang in Russian, "A smile makes a gloomy day brighter...," the audience was visibly affected, with smiles appearing on the faces of all spectators.
Additionally, employees of the Roerich Trust presented a gift to the Festival. Accompanied by folk instruments from the Kullu Valley, they performed a traditional dance, the 'nati', which bears resemblance to the Russian round dance.
The Russian Embassy in India and the Russian House presented a performance by the dance group 'Stanitsa' from Krasnodar, directed by Anatoly Krugly, an Honoured Worker of Culture of Kuban (Russia). The group 'Stanitsa' delivered a highly professional performance, which served as a powerful conclusion to the festivities. The artists presented a series of vibrant dances originating from the southern regions of Russia, accompanied by a selection of stirring Russian songs that encapsulated the essence of the Russian people, their poetic sensibilities, and their indomitable spirit.
The celebration at the Roerich Estate in Naggar, dedicated to the Russian artist, scientist and thinker Nicholas Roerich, represented another vibrant expression of the enduring friendship between Russia and India. The atmosphere was full of joy, inspiration, sincerity and solemnity. The day served to foster mutual understanding and unite the hearts of all admirers and followers of the great Russian Maharishi.
The Festive program on the Theatrical stage commenced with a musical invocation to the Goddess Saraswati, the patron deity of art and science. This was performed by students and teachers of the Helena Roerich Academy of Arts for Children of the International Roerich Memorial Trust, under the direction of Anshul Kumar, the Academy's music teacher and the programme's host. Subsequently, the Festival guests of honour ignited the ritual lantern, after which the IRMT Curators presented the guests with traditional Kullu Valley hats and commemorative anniversary badges of the Festival.
