‘Flight of Ecstasy’ for flute lovers

CORD presents a night of Hindustani Classical Music in aid of underprivileged women

Classical music lovers of the flute have a date. On May 29, at New Kathiresan Hall, Bambalapitiya from 6 p.m., the Chinmaya Institute for Rural Development, Sri Lanka (CORD) presents a night of Hindustani Classical Music (Bansuri) to collect funds for its work with underprivileged women.

“Flight of Ecstasy: A Divine Take off through Dance and Music” will feature renowned Indian Flautist, Himansha Nanda. Tabla accompaniment will be by well known tablist, Kalisthan Misra and there will also be dance recitals by the Chitrasena-Vajira Dance foundation and Divya Sivanesan.

The Chinamaya Organization for Rural Development was established in India in 1950 by Swami Chinmayananda. Administered by the Central Chinmaya Mission Trust in Mumbai, India, there are over 300 mission centres all over India and abroad. CORD was established in Sri Lanka in 2005 after the tsunami and works to uplift the living standards of needy women by giving them life skills so they can earn for themselves. CORD has four centres in Jaffna, Colombo, Ramboda and Trincomalee and they also operate in Killinochchi, Batticaloa and Mullaitivu with nearly 1000 women registered from around the island.

“Our mission is to empower women in these rural areas both mentally and financially so they can have a feeling of fulfilment,” says Director of CORD, Sri Lanka Gowrie Mahenthiran. “The women we work with are not only war victims but, single mothers either divorced or widowed. We believe that the mother is the base of a family. If the mother is strong, then she will look after her family. The women in these areas are not only poor but they are also weak and helpless.”

They provide a nutritional food supplement along with medical facilities, counselling, tuition as well as motivational camps for school children and vocational training, skill development as well as motivational programmes for women.

“For thirty years these families were battered by war. They lived with fear and anxiety. And now though the war is over the depression and trauma they experienced is still in their minds. They also get a lot of free handouts and aid from different people. This has made them still dependent. What we always tell these women is ‘you are capable, you can, you will and you must.’”

“We hope to get new volunteers to come and join us,” adds Ms. Mahenthiran.

Tickets are available at the Chinmaya Mission, No 32, 10th Lane, Colombo 3, Lalitha’s on Duplication Road, Shanmuga’s in Bambalapitiya, Pattakannu’s in New Chetty Street, Kotahena, Jeyachandran’s in Wellawatte, Seven Stories in Bambalapitiya and Sankem in Albert Crescent.