by BISMumbai Correspondent

AmrutDhara Don Bosco is all set to launch NAMAN 2020 an audio album collection of 10 Marian Bhajans in Gujarati. It is the laborious fruit of 03 musician composers: veteran musician, poet, composer and ardent Marian devotee Joseph Y. Macwan together with Paul Macwan, a reputed musician from Vadodara, and Hiren Macwan, a much sought-after creative teacher, musician and composer.

In the prevailing COVID-19 situation, with the shattered plans of people who find themselves helpless, this devotional musical album is an aid to have recourse to . Mother Mary to seek her intercession to help rescue the suffering from distress and hopelessness.

Speaking to BISMumbai, Father Mayank Parmar-Rector Kapadvanj Don Bosco, Director DRISTI and Director AmrutDhara said, "initially it was decided to launch this Marian offering in May, but the lockdown situation didn't allow it. Then, it was decided on 01 June, the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of the Church. Also, it was meant to be a fitting farewell to Father Dinesh Vasava, who till 23 May was AmrutDhara Director and who now proceeds to Rome-the eternal city for further and higher studies. The idea was that Mary Our Mother will accompany Father Vasava on his journey and stay in a foreign land."

Despite the COVID-19 lockdown and the other pressing responsibilities of reaching out to stranded and affected poor during these last 02 months, Studio Don Bosco [SDB], part of the AmrutDhara Centre and a contributing factor of the Mumbai Salesians Province Communications ministry worked on the album with resolve. As soon as Lockdown 5.0 was beginning to ease and Unlock 1.0 was starting, the entire team finalised the recording, mixing and mastering working non-stop over a week.

Father Parmar adds, "we are now launching it on 03 June to coincide with the martyrdom of Charles Lwanga and his friends, the Ugandan martyrs who were martyred for their faith. He is the patron of converts, torture victims, and Catholic Youth Action [Africa]. He is also supposed to be a patron for those wanting to live in purity and resisting temptations of the flesh. Mary is an example of purity also. So, it is a good day." "Besides, he says, "we are expecting Brother Jerome Mendonca to join as part of our Kapadvanj community on 03 June. So it is an auspicious occasion."

Musical orchestration and instrumentation for the album has been provided by youth musician Shailesh Jadav on the keyboard, with Birju and Dinesh young dynamic rhythm players. Mukesh Mac and his sister Sonal Mac have provided the vocals. Father Parmar states, "all the artistes involved in this production have lent their services without charging a single penny, free of cost for the greater glory of God and in the hope that Mother Mary will intercede for us in this pandemic situation."

Father Dinesh Vasava and Father Ashwin Macwan together with Father Parmar hope that this Marian devotional audio album will be of assistance to the Gujarati Catholics in India and those part of the larger diaspora, in faraway foreign lands.

Father Vasava former Director AmrutDhara and the Provincial Social Communications Commission member, and also part of the Vocational Guidance Dimension of the Province Youth Ministry said, "Thanks to the Mumbai Salesians' Provincial Council for their support and encouragement by investing in Studio Don Bosco, Kapadvanj. It has always from the start tried to provide quality Gujarati audio-visual animation material. I am sure it will continue its ministry even after the COVID-19."

The album will be made available on 03 june on the AmrutDhara Don Bosco YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkNIWvgiWPKz-pFoZfMwRCg/featured]