Hindu Life Program at Princeton University

It is almost time for this year’s Diwali at the Chapel event — the 16th annual celebration of Diwali at Princeton University and 15th in the Chapel (in light of Covid, we offered a video commemoration rather than in-person event in 2020).

For more information, including FAQs and parking recommendations, please visit our DIWALI AT THE CHAPEL website.

As always, this annual celebration features presentations by the students, faculty, and staff of Princeton University.

This year we are also blessed to be joined by a very special guest… Grammy-nominated world music artist JAHNAVI HARRISON 

Jahnavi Harrison is a musician who aims to channel her creative expression as a path to self-realisation and service. Raised in a family of Bhakti Yoga practitioners at Bhaktivedanta Manor, one of the most frequently visited and respected Hindu temples in all of Europe and one of England’s most important spiritual landmarks, her earliest memories are saturated with Sanskrit chants, devotional rituals, and joyous music. As a child she was fascinated with song and story, and has nurtured that interest through her lifelong exploration of music, dance, visual art and the written word. She trained in both Indian (Carnatic) and Western music, as well as dance, writing and the visual arts and earned her bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and Creative Writing from Middlesex University.  

A gifted communicator, Jahnavi also presents regularly for BBC Radio. 

She released her debut album, ‘Like a River to the Sea’ in July 2015, and features on the Grammy nominated ‘Bhakti Without Borders’ charity album (2016). 

For almost two decades, she has travelled the world, offering her voice and violin playing in the performance of sacred music and call-and-response mantra chant (kirtan) through gatherings, concerts, sound baths and workshops. With the hope to make mantra music accessible and relevant to a wider audience through a variety of events and retreats, she co-founded Kirtan London, a dynamic project that continues to inspire and connect with people of diverse backgrounds. Jahnavi’s sound encompasses rich influences of East and West, and aims to offer an experience which truly nourishes the spirit.

***

We are delighted that Jahnavi and friend will present sacred music at our Diwali at the Chapel celebration this year. The event is free, and open to all. No pre-registration or ticket is necessary.

It’s official. Diwali at the Chapel 2022 is on, in-person, and free and open to all.

Saturday, November 5, 2022. 7pm. No tickets or registration required.

As in previous years, we are delighted to share the devotional offerings of our students, including presentations by PU Swara (the university’s celebrated classical music group) and NAACHO (the university’s premier South Asian dance company). In addition, we are thrilled to welcome back to our sacred space very special guest artists Gaura Vani & As Kindred Spirits, Bengali folk and classical vocalist Srivani Bardhan, and acclaimed violinist Nistha Raj.

Stay tuned (and check in at our sister site, diwali.princeton.edu) for more information.

Last week we were honored to host Swamini Radhikananda of the Chinmaya Mission for a dharma wisdom talk. Swamini Ji spoke on how we can approach adversity and obstacles, learning to see them as opportunities for reflection and catalysts for spiritual growth. She reminded us that, while we often have little control over the external situation, we can always address the inner sources of our suffering by learning to manage our emotions.

Although the event was an in-person gathering, we also recorded the talk. Please do check it out on our YouTube channel.

This week we resume our popular (at least among a handful of diehard meditators) weekly meditation series, Shanti in Place. Originally conceived of as a response to anxiety around the Covid pandemic and unexpected quarantine, Shanti has since grown into a precious opportunity each week to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the busy working day and cultivate some inner peace. It’s about relaxing, but it is also about replenishing and re-centering.

This year, Shanti is evolving yet again. First things first, we’re switching from Tuesdays to Thursdays. We’re also experimenting with the format; we’re presenting this program as a hybrid, so that folks can choose to either Zoom in as usual or join us in person.

If joining in person, please come to Murray Dodge Hall, rm. 104. Please make sure that you are following all the Covid protocol and keep everyone safe. (And if you are feeling under the weather, consider Zooming in instead.)

If joining on Zoom, please try to log in a few minutes early and make sure you stay muted.

We’re excited to meditate with you again, and hope to see you at Shanti in Place this week.

The Hindu Life Program was delighted to partner with the Princeton Public Library, the Cotsens Children Library at Princeton University, the Plainsboro Public Library, Labyrinth Books, and JaZams to host this amazing conversation between two beloved authors.

On January 22-24, 2021, the Princeton University Hindu Life Program had the honor of hosting a historic gathering of four renowned speakers of Dharma wisdom. Swami Sarvapriyananda, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Radhanath Swami, and Sister BK Shivani joined us to explore how we might discover purpose and serve others.

Recordings of the 3-session webinar are available on our YouTube channel.