The auditorium was packed with youngsters, sitting cross-legged on the floor. As the music started playing, they began swaying, singing and clapping their hands. Once the tempo picked up, they were on their feet, chanting in chorus and dancing. Those were scenes from the first bhajan clubbing event in the State, ROOTS, an initiative of Nandagovindam Bhajans, the group which has redefined devotional music scene with their blend of traditional bhajans with popular music.Bhajan clubbing, a trend that is fast catching on showcases traditional bhajans in a pub-like atmosphere, without alcohol. ROOTS, a ticketed event for those in the age group of 15 and 35, held at Uday Samudra Convention Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, saw a turnout of over 750 people. “The response was overwhelming. Honestly, we were worried about how it would turn out. But the energy of the crowd rubbed off on us from the first song itself and we forgot that we had been standing for over three hours, which is a first for us. We were banking on the fact that Nandagovindam has a huge fan base among youngsters,” says Naveen Mohan, one of the lead singers of the group.
A view of the crowd at ROOTS, the bhajan clubbing event of Nandagovindam Bhajans, held in Thiruvananthapuram
