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India - The Sat-Chit-Anand Water Show: the ancient secret has been revealed

The Sat-Chit-Anand Water Show is a brand new, breathtaking addition to the Swaminarayan Akshardham complex in Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat (India). As ‘Sat’ means truth, ‘Chit’ consciousness and ‘Anand’  bliss, “the consciousness of the ultimate truth leads to the experience of eternal bliss” is the message conveyed by this place. The show reveals India’s most ancient secret through the fascinating story of Nachiketa, a nine-year-old boy who bravely faces Yamaraj, the god of death, receiving from him, after a long trial, the knowledge of immortality and eternal happiness. This is the world’s first water show created to deliver a highly spiritual message through a delightful blend of lights and lasers, water and fire games, sound and music, animation, video projection and live characters, which follow the whole plot of the story with an astonishing combination of all-involving effects. 
Produced in early 2009 by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in creative and technical collaboration with ECA2, a world-renowned creative agency from France, the water show’s set construction and technical installations began in September 2009. The show concept, story, design, direction and production were entrusted to BAPS, whereas ECA2 was in charge of Creative Direction, Technical Direction and Show Programming. Electrical panels, pumps, nozzles, lights, control systems, laser systems and fibre networks were commissioned and installed in only four months thanks to the efforts of BAPS volunteers. In just two weeks, a 45-minute preview show was prepared for preliminary trials. Finally, on April, 3rd 2010, the show was opened to the public by the spiritual head of BAPS, His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, in the presence of the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Narendra Modi and of the renowned nuclear scientist Shri Dr R. Chidambaram. The 45 minutes show is now open and plays every evening after sunset from Tuesdays to Sundays.
Many technological elements of Sat-Chit-Anand make it truly unique in the whole country with a 130-feet wide and 70-feet high water screen, around 4.000 nozzles, 2.000 lights, over 100 pumps, 160-feet long sea-of-fire (fire spreading on water) along with several fireballs, three powerful lasers, all enhanced by 7.1 surround sound system and controlled with extreme precision. To reach this astonishing global effect, 68 GRIVEN’s Danube colour changers and 54 Dive under water projectors were installed in the Gandhinagar complex. Using 88 high brightness LEDs fitted into a remarkably compact  unit, Danube can be installed in any position and in any orientation and is capable of achieving an extremely high light output. Three different  beam angle optics (10° -30° -45°) were used for this installation, which required powerful and dynamic colour beams as an evocative backdrop.  Featuring an IP68 (Full Dry) weather protection rating, DIVE is a high quality LED colour changer, specifically designed for underwater applications. All its three versions have been featured in this set, which foresaw various lighting submerged installations.
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is a social, cultural and spiritual organization headquartered in India with a worldwide network of over 3.300 centres. BAPS is a not-for-profit charitable NGO affiliated with United Nation’s Economic and Social Council. Along with more than 100 types of social and humanitarian services, BAPS also nourishes universal values and human harmony through many cultural centers. 
www.baps.org