A new community-led devotional music initiative was launched in Suva as a direct response to growing concerns about youth drug use and long hours spent around kava bars, with organisers saying young people needed constructive alternatives to harmful social spaces.
Hindu Unity leader Sandeep Narayan Singh said the “Bhajan Jamming” concept was created to draw youths away from drugs and reconnect them with spirituality through music and shared participation.
“Our youth are basically sitting down behind the kava bars and toxic products,” Mr Singh said.
“We wanted to create something to bring them out for a spiritual life.”
He said young people were spending four to five hours in unproductive environments, increasing their exposure to substance abuse and negative influences.
“You can see people can sit long for four to five hours drinking kava and just having no constructive effort.
“Somehow we’re able to get younger people where they can sing together and sit together.”
Mr Singh said the initiative deliberately avoided formal religious structures, using music to attract youths who were drifting away from traditional devotional programs.
“Our youths are actually leaving devotional and religious programs.
“This is a musical night, a mash-up form of devotional songs sung by Anubhav Musicals, and then everyone joins together.”
Mr Singh said “Bhajan Jamming” would continue as a community-based effort to keep youths engaged, connected and away from drugs.
The program was also dedicated to the late Reverend Simione Tugi, recognising his role in community leadership and drug prevention.
Director and band leader of Anubhav Musicals, Ranil Kumar, said the event marked Fiji’s first “Bhajan Jamming” experience, shifting devotion from performance to participation.
“Nobody has ever done it, jamming explains that we all come together, we sing, we dance, it sends us into a trance of devotion.” Mr Kumar said.
High Commissioner of India to Fiji Suneet Mehta said the gathering also reflected the enduring cultural values that had sustained Indo-Fijians for generations.
“The Girmityas preserved the culture and came with Ramayana in their hearts, Lord Rama resides in the hearts of so many people here.” Mr Mehta said.
