THE IMPRESSIVE PIPE BAND FROM NEW JERSEY
Walkers and runners participating in a recent 5K race to benefit New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network were treated to the sounds of bagpipes and drums from a band dressed in a traditional Scottish uniform of kilt, tunic, sporran, and Glengarry cap.
The band played tunes such as “God Bless America,” “America the Beautiful,” “Yankee Doodle,” and even Queen’s “We Will Rock You.”
“What an amazing performance!” registered nurse Jami Abes told The Jersey Journal. “The bagpipes are so very rare to hear—all the walkers were stopping in their tracks to take a listen. The players were all extremely talented. The music was beautiful and went along perfectly with such a moving event.”
The members of the band were not Scottish but Indian Americans who play bagpipes and drums in tribute to Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa.
The 35-member SwamiBapa Pipe Band, consisting of disciples of the Shree Swaminarayan Temple New Jersey, has been performing at a variety of festivals and other events since 2003, entertaining people with Indian, American, and Scottish melodies, both religious and secular. The Secaucus-based band often performs at India Day parades and celebrations, as well as Gujarati conferences.
According to the band’s website, members “give up their free time to attend weeknight and weekend practices so that they can improve their skills and talent each time they play for Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa and His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree. The pipe band’s only wish is to please them and attain their divine blessings.”
While pursuing that goal, they also give thousands of people the rare treat of bagpipe music.
Compiled and partly written by Indian humorist MELVIN DURAI, author of the novel Bala Takes the Plunge.
[Comments? Contributions? Please email us at melvin@melvindurai.com. We welcome jokes, quotes, online clips, and more.]
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