Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: Hava Nagila at Oshodham, India

About 30 miles south of Delhi, India, the meditation center of Oshodham has blossomed, offering a clean, green, aesthetic and peaceful environment for those on the inner journey of meditation. In tune with nature, a beautiful space has been created for group and individual meditations both indoors and outdoors. 

The cherubic sound of gurgling water bodies and fountains with the chirping of birds help the meditators to go deep on the path of awareness through meditation. Today, meditators from all over India and abroad converge here to meditate and celebrate. Over 150 people can be accommodated to take part in three-day or three weeks meditation camps and groups. Oshodham is open all round the year for meditations.

So what's the latest activity at this meditation center? It's Hava Nagila, introduced as a dance to followers of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, more recently known as Osho.

The meditation group was introduced to this song and dance number the previous evening after dinner during a video session showing young Jews dancing happily to it. Before the video, a brief background of the Jewish people, their suffering, determination and spirit of celebrating life was shared. The folk song traces its origins back 1800 years and surfaced just over a century ago moving from Russia to Austria and to Israel.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
 
A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.