A new sound-based meditation project rooted in Indian classical music is set to launch in Dubai this week, as UAE-based Carnatic vocalist Rajani Shridhar introduces “NaadaDhyaan” at an event in BurJuman.
The public launch took place at BHUB in BurJuman with a guided listening session and a ceremony attended by around 70 to 100 invited guests.
Sound meditation
NaadaDhyaan, which translates to meditation through sound, is an improvised vocal album that moves away from traditional song structures. The recording features voice, breath and melody inspired by the therapeutic side of Carnatic music.
The project does not include lyrics or fixed compositions. Instead, it is designed as a listening and meditation experience intended for stillness and reflection.
Therapeutic focus
Rajani Shridhar, who has lived in the UAE for more than 25 years, trained in Carnatic music and later studied the therapeutic application of Indian music under Mrs. Rajam Shanker.
She has worked with Parkinson’s disease patients through vocal therapy sessions and has also volunteered at Rashid Pediatric Therapy Centre for Special Needs in Dubai.
“It is not just an album release. It is an experience that everyone should go through once in their life, and a practice that should be embedded into your day-to-day.”
Multi-language access
The album includes guided narration in several languages, including Arabic, to make the practice accessible to a wider audience across the UAE.
According to the organisers, the vocal work was performed live with traditional accompaniment and recorded without a fixed melodic structure.
Family collaboration
NaadaDhyaan was developed as a family project alongside Rajani’s husband Shridhar and their daughter. The work also draws from the family’s roots in Tamil Nadu and their long-standing cultural activities in Dubai.
Rajani has previously led the Samarpan concert series, supported by the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai, which raised support for underprivileged children.
She was also awarded the title of Cultural Ambassador during her teaching tenure at Mimar Sinan University in Istanbul and received the International Women’s Excellence Award in 2021.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
