Ananda

Ananda is the joy that comes from knowing our true identity—the identity that unites us with the entirety of creation. It is the deep, pervasive happiness that arises when we recognize that the labels and descriptions we attach to ourselves are not our true essence.

Ananda is the bliss we experience when we feel a kinship not just with our own families or communities, but with all cultures, all people, animals, nature, and all of humanity. It is the profound connection that transcends divisions, filling us with a sense of oneness.

In classical art and literature, this concept of Ananda is often immortalized in metaphors of yearning and longing for an image of divinity. As the seeker or lover realizes the true self, this divine presence is seen everywhere, in everything.

The performance by Rukmini Vijayakumar will feature a collection of compositions that delve into the theme of Ananda, expressed through a rich array of metaphors, evoking this timeless idea of bliss and unity.