The Power of Music.

One of the things I've observed during my time at Bal Ashram is the power of music. 

Music, sounds, and mantras are so heavily built into the daily routines of these boys. Every morning they start with a sun prayer, where they chant together while facing the sun. After breakfast, there's a 'pradhana,' where they do another chant to God followed by the singing of the Indian National Anthem. Hearing the boys sing the National Anthem gives me goosebumps every time. There's something magical and breathtaking about the Indian National Anthem and the combination of all the voices in the room singing for the same cause. 

After the national anthem, they chant some slogans. One example of a slogan they say every day is something along the lines of 'Bal Majduri Bhan Kharo, Bal Shiksha Shuru Kharo' (Stop child labor, Start child education). These slogans are equally powerful. They have 2-3 kids stand at the front and say the first half, and the rest of the boys yell the second half. Again, it's collective and it builds a sense of unity and pride. 

In the afternoon, the boys have meditation, during which they do some deep breathing followed by spiritually loaded 'om's. The humming of 'om' is so enchanting when in the room with the boys. It creates a calming effect that cannot be explained in words. 

During religious holidays, they do a havan (e.g. a ritual in which offerings of food etc. are burned in a fire to bring good luck on a special occasion - Wiktionary). All the boys chant in Sanskrit during this time and it is mesmerizing. There's a tune and rhythm that they all follow and once again, it creates a sense of unity and wholeness. 

They even like to party and get down to some Bollywood and Rajasthani music. Rajasthani music has insane beats that the boys love to dance crazy to. It's the perfect mix of cultural and club music that you just can't resist bopping hard to. 'Chunni Mein Perfume Lagave' is now a song that I am obsessed with thanks to the boys. 

Though I don't know any of the prayers, chants, slogans, and even the Rajasthani songs, there's an energy that I feel when I'm around the boys during those moments. It's the kind of energy that throws you to another wavelength of existence - a calmer, kinder, gratitude-filled existence. The energy combines everyone. It claims that we are all one. It's powerful and it's beautiful. That is the power of music.