Culturally-inclined sisters win laurels

Manasvi Nimmagadda and Lalitha Nimmagadda are being appreciated for their dedication towards various art forms

Siblings Manasvi Nimmagadda and Lalitha Meenakshi Nimmagadda from the city have added a special feather in their cap by reciting the Bhagavad Gita verses (without seeing) and earned a gold medal each from Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Mysore. The younger of the duo, Lalitha has also passed in distinction for the same feat at Shringeri Sharada Peetham, Shringeri.

“It all started two years ago when our guru, Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji, asked everybody to learn the Bhagavad Gita. I took this up and learnt all 700 shlokas of the 18 chapters in six months. And I gave an exam in the presence of the learned Ghanapatis, where we are judged for our memory and pronunciation,” says Lalitha, who teaches the Bhagavad Gita, for free, online in ‘SGS BG India Group’ and is pursuing her integrated MBA in the city.

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“Initially, I was a bit apprehensive to learn the scripture, as it is not so easy and I had to balance my job as well, but after my younger sister and brother completed learning, our guru asked, ‘When are you completing?’ Then, I thought of taking it up, finally completed and won a gold medal,” says Manasvi, who is working in an IT company in the city.

Home is the first school for every child as has been proved again in these sisters’ case too. Brought up in a home which is culturally inclined, both sisters share the same interest and credit their parents for encouraging them from that age. “While many of our friends feel proud of our achievements, there are still a few who ask us ‘why are you getting deep into spirituality at such a young age?’ But, we just ignore such questions, as we just like others, we also watch movies, go to restaurants and enjoy our outings. We believe ‘Be a Roman when you are in Rome’,” laughs the duo.

Both sisters have been learning Carnatic classical music from a young age and on the occasion of Krishnashtami this year, they released a ‘Krishna bhajan’ video song, which earned them a good name. “The idea was to do something productive during the lockdown, and we didn’t want to go out and take the risk, it was in our home and our neighbour’s home that we shot the video,” said the sisters.

During the lockdown elder sister Manasvi completed her international yoga trainer course as well. While Manasvi learnt violin under the tutelage of Dwaram Sathyanarayana, Lalitha pursued Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and mridangam for a few years.

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