There were many, many wonderful things about Wednesday night’s concert.
First and foremost, for me personally, is that it was the first time since last December that we could actually sing in the Temple of Light! Che gioia!
Another thing that made it special was collaborating with a team of young people from our Expanding Light Ashram. We worked together on planning the program, plus they wrapped their auras around many of the technical and promotional aspects. Yay, team!
Every program we’ve put on since the beginning of the pandemic has been a “first,” as each event had to be adjusted for ever-changing circumstances. On this concert for the first time we combined live performers in the Temple of Light, live performers in other locations around the world, and pre-recorded videos. It definitely kept our sound and video team on their toes!
Finally, I want to highlight a couple of special moments during the evening. Throughout this program I was much more aware of challenging global realities; much more so than during previous “worldwide” concerts that we’ve produced.
I was especially moved when our dear friend in Tel Aviv sang:
Lightly I fly when I live in laughter,
Lightly I fly when my heart sings.
Fling to the ground every heavy burden.
Now I can soar up above the clouds!
It was even more touching when her close spiritual friends in California joined her via the magic of video!
Then there were our friends in Mumbai. They were dealing with the double challenges of COVID and a cyclone, but that didn’t stop them from joining us live (at 8:30 in the morning their time!) to celebrate Swamiji.
As an appreciative friend/audience member put it: “I love our international concerts… Swamiji wanted us to join together around the world, and you have all made it so.”
