Meena Host/Producer/Editor:

Classics & Traditions with Meena Ji” is a Television program that speaks volumes about traditions from United States of America and around the world. This program is all about transferring knowledge and that is precisely what I love doing while developing a story. I enjoy drawing on all of my life experiences and share them with you. This offers me a rich but low-cost way of sharing with you what has been researched and developed.

These ancient and modern traditions from around our planet run deep and have survived for thousands of years. My aim is to embrace awareness towards these different cultures by providing the opportunity for you to focus on language and literature, Art, music, the unique dances, crafts, festivals, cuisine, customs and above all the spirit of this fascinating planet.

Meena believes that traditions were deliberately invented for one reason or another, often to highlight or enhance the importance of a certain institution. A tradition is a practice, custom, or a story that is memorized and passed down from generation to generation. The stories are preserved and are referred to as an Oral Tradition.

As you travel with me you will get to unravel the interpretation and understanding through a literate and brilliantly displayed television program. You will witness not merely the great breadth and depth of cultures around the world but also its continuity and evolutionary vigor.

My journey with you is a breath of fresh air for the new and the old generation. It enables us to observe the differences and commonalities of cultures around our world of existence and most importantly offers insights for us to appreciate.

Classics have always been a vital part of each Art tradition, so I invite you to join me to capture the true essence of the world we live in.

Please check out my latest !

The links on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN6jrWSyxOc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjCnUlPT54E&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JhbKPcW-4o&feature=related

The first link is the introduction of the show by Meena Ji.

The second link is the 1st part of the interveiw with Salman as the host

The third link is the continuation of the Interview with Host Salman. An interview with a local Landscape Artist Mark Isaacs.

My Broadcasting training at B.B.C London was just the beginning to a world of new sounds and auras. Since then the digital world has enhanced and taught me that the human voice is the most effective tool for spreading a message.

Voiceover excited me and terrified me at the same time. Soon I learned it was fun as there were no sets to create or break down. The best part was that I did not have to do any make up routine nor dress up for it.

Learning how to use the microphone is a skill by itself. Voice over was the next step for me after becoming a TV/Radio broadcaster. I learned soon that a message has to be conveyed in a set amount of time. In the start of my broadcasting career the clock and I had a love hate relationship which soon grounded and seasoned me into who I am today.

 I am currently in the process of developing new Podcasts of my favorite Poets.

Please check back regularly for new Podcasts.

ETHNIC MUSIC IS HELD IN GREAT ESTEEM. MUSIC PAVES THE PATH OF RHYTHM IN LIVING ETHNIC WORLD MUSIC CULTURES.

THE MUSIC I ADDED TO MY FAIRFAX PUBLIC ACCESS RADIO INTERNET PROGRAM WAS IN THE ETHNIC LANGUAGE OF THE POET.

MUSIC REVIVES OUR MINDS, AND THE RESONANT SOUNDS OF THE INSTRUMENTS AND MELODIES BY RENOWNED ARTISTS CREATED A RICH IMAGE OF THE CULTURE.

MUSIC MEASURES EACH DIFFERENT ERA AND ELABORATES A ESTABLISHED A FOUNDATION TO MY RADIO PROGRAM THAT INITIALLY WAS TITLED "THE NEVER ENDING JOURNEY."

MUSIC REVEALS THE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF EAC HISTORIC & GEOGRAPHICAL ERA.

I BELIEVE THE ETHNIC MUSIC ESSENTIALLY HELPS US LIVE IN THIS DIVERSE WORLDESSENTIALLY  WITH COMPASSION & LOVE.

YOUR MAP TRAVELS IN YOUR HEART

STORIES MOVE THROUGH TIME.WHEN YOU LEAVE A STATE OR COUNTRY, YOU CARRY MEMORIES WITH YOU. HOME, THEN, IS NOT ON THE MAP BUT IN YOUR HEART.

ALSO, ONCE YOU LEAVE A PLACE AND RETURN AT A LATER TIME, BOTH YOU AND THE PL;ACE HAS CHANGED WHILE YOU WERE GONE.

STORIES ARE LINK ARE A LINK WITH THE PLACE, CULTURE, AND PEOPLE YOU LEFT BEHIND.

FOLKLORE ARE VERY MEANINGFUL, AS MOST IMPORTANTLY THEY CONVEY A MESSAGE, AND FEELINGS ARE EXPRESSED. 

BHARATHNATYAM IS A POPULAR CLASSICAL INDIAN DANCE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE TEMPLES OF Tamil Nadu IN SOUTH INDIA. BEST KNOWN FOR ITS GRACE, PURITY, TENDERNESS, AND SCULPTURESQUE POSTURES. 

INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCING ...THE BODY SHOULD CATCH UP TO THE TUNE!

BELLS ON ANKLES (GHUNGAROO)

GHUNGAROO OR GHUNGURA IS ONE OF THE MANY METALLIC BELLS STRUNG TOGETHER TO FORM GHUNGROOS, A MUSICAL ANKLET  TIED TO THE FEET OF A CLASSICAL DANCER.

A STRING OF GHUNGAROOS CAN RANGE FROM 50 TO GREATER THAN 200 BELLS KNOTTED TOGETHER. A CHILD MAY START WITH 50 AND SLOWLY ADD MORE.

YATHI HASTATO DHRISTIHI, YATHO DRISHTISTO MANAHA, YATHO MANATATO BHAVAHA, YATHO BHAVASTATO RASAHA.

MEANING:

WHERE THE HANDS GO, THE EYES SHOILD FOLLOW, 

WHERE THE EYES GO, THE MIND SHOILD FOLLOW, 

WHERE THE MIND GOES, THE EMOTIONS ARE GENERATED. 

WHERE THE EMOTIONS ARE GENERATED SENTIMENT ARISES.

IN THIS CLASSICAL DANCE FORM OF BHARATHNATYAM, THE MUSIC AND COSTUMES PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE.

JEWELRY

THE WRIST AND THE ARMS OF A DANCER ARE ADORNED WITH BANGLES AND BRACELETS WHICH SYMBOLIZE PROSPERITY. AS THE MUSIC GOES ON, THESE WRISTS AND ARMS JEWELLEREY ENHANCES THE RHYTHMIC CHOREOGRAPHY FOR THE DANCER.

ON THEIR WAIST THE DANCERS WEAR AN EMBELLISHED BELT KNOWN AS OTTIYANAM.