Vidarshana: Message of love through music

'Vidharshana' an evening spreading the message of love and harmony among different communities through music, will be held on Sunday, February 28 at the BMICH.

This is the second such mission by 'Daham Pahana', a community representing members from different religions but going on one spiritual journey for the last fifteen years.

‘In our journey we have come to the mountain top and we want to celebrate it in an appropriate way’ said Bro. Charles Thomas, the servant leader of Daham Pahana.

‘Based on our avowed mission of promoting righteousness and peace in Sri Lanka through the medium of Music, we have embarked on a series of musical presentations that have come to be known as 'Vey Prasansa'. We have staged these musical recitals in many parts of the island including Jaffna over a considerable period of time" he added.

Over the years through the programme 'Vey Prasanasa', Daham Pahana was successful in transforming lives and human behaviour to improve mental and physical health by overcoming their own mental agonies, resentments, grudges and hatred by developing tranquility through musical harmony.

To improve patience, tolerance and understanding resulting in more harmonious human relationship in society, was one of the goals of Daham Pahana.

For the last one and half decades the community had been spreading this message of love in churches, temples, youth camps etc,. from children to elders and for all from all walks of life. The program on February 28 will be more of a cultural event with a distinct spiritual dimension aiming to reawaken the splendour of love and compassion, while upholding the values of diverse faiths in the nation.

Veteran musician Mahinda Bandara and his gifted troupe will lead the musical orchestration. The arrangements will include scintillating renditions from several well-known artistes propounding the topical theme.

‘I joined this journey through my guru the late Stanley Peiris the leader of 'Fortune' band and with his death I decided to use my talent for this worthy cause and the result was meeting Charles and working with him’ said the guitarist and music director Mahinda Bandara.

Among the invitees are religious dignitaries as well as celebrities from diverse fields such as entertainment, sports, films and etc. Several Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament too are among the invitees.

When questioned about the role of the politician in this event Br. Charles said, "We have invited all the political parties and we hope that politics has to be joined with religion." However there won't be any addresses by politicians. The only message will be from the secretary of the Catholic Bishop's conference Rt. Rev. Vianney Fernando.

"The change that we all are yearning for our country should start from the religions that each of us believe in. And this message of love that was spread by the different religious leaders is the key to inner freedom that we are all yearning for," Bro. Charles said.

‘There is a notion that people are not for religion. But this is false. To heal this country we need spiritual leadership. There is a basic message preached by all the religious leaders and that is love. What we want to spread is this message’ he added.

Fr. Paul Fernando well-known musician and lyricist who had made popular hymns said "Every religion teaches love and what we have to do is to bring back this teaching to our individual lives" He said that the community was not supported by any religious institution but by volunteer individuals. to create a society filled with the message of love.