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Delighting Krishna Community Day celebrated in Washington
The event took place across multiple galleries in the National Museum, with curators, conservators, and community members giving insight into various aspects of Pichwai art and its deep connection to the Pushtimarg sect of Hinduism.
Community members who participated in the event. / Courtesy Photo
The National Museum of Asian Art in Washington DC hosted Delighting Krishna Community Day on Mar.30, bringing together art lovers, scholars, and devotees for a celebration of Indian artistic and devotional traditions. The event, centered around the museum’s Pichwai exhibition, featured guided tours, expert discussions, and a live performance of Haveli Sangeet—the semi-classical devotional music of Krishna’s home.
The event took place across multiple galleries in the museum, with curators, conservators, and community members giving insight into various aspects of Pichwai art and its deep connection to the Pushtimarg sect of Hinduism. The program began with guided spotlight tours, where visitors explored themes such as The Lineage of Vallabhacharya, Longing for Krishna, Kunj Ekadashi (Holi), and Gopashtami (Festival of Cows). Experts, including Allen Richardson, Jennifer Giaccai, Hillary Langberg, and Tierney Brown, led discussions, offering historical and technical perspectives on the displayed works.
The highlight of the day was the Haveli Sangeet performance at the Meyer Auditorium. This rare musical tradition, deeply rooted in the devotional practices of Pushtimarg temples, was performed by musicians from across the U.S. The genre, which blends classical ragas with folk melodies, was composed in literary Hindi (Braj Bhasha) by eight revered poets in the 16th century.
Courtesy Photo / One of the curators giving insight into various aspects of Pichwai art.Reflecting on the experience, Shaleen Sukhiya, a musician from New Jersey, shared his admiration for the exhibit. “Today, we had the great fortune of performing Haveli Sangeet at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art as part of the Pichwai exhibit. Pichwai is something that’s very beautiful and centuries old, with many pieces curated from Nathdwara itself. Seeing the intricate hand-painted works, from Ras Leela to Gopashtami, has been truly exceptional,” he said.
Fellow musician Arjun Talati echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the significance of the event. “The Smithsonian has done a wonderful job putting together this exhibit. Seeing Prabhu Shrinathji’s presence in a gallery in the USA is an amazing opportunity for Vaishnavs and the broader community. The atmosphere was just wonderful,” he noted.
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