About Hari
A journey shaped by curiosity, discipline, practice and a growing love for Carnatic rhythm.
Hari AnumoluFrom First Beat to Arangetram
Hari's musical journey, in his mother's words.
When I first visited Mountain View ISKCON in 2015, Hari was only three years old. During the visit, he watched the devotees playing the mridangam during Hari Nama Sankirtana. After the kirtana ended, he went near the deities, picked up a mridangam, and began playing it while singing Hari Nama Sankirtana himself. Seeing his natural interest and enthusiasm, I decided to encourage him further.
During our visit to India in 2017, I enrolled him in mridangam lessons with ISKCON devotees in Hyderabad. To our amazement, he learned very quickly and grasped the basics within just one week. After returning to the United States, I learned about Gopi Sir through my friend Shobana Ramesh. From Vijayadashami in 2018 onward, Hari began formal mridangam training under Gopi Sir.
Around the same time, he also started learning Carnatic vocal music. Thus began his musical journey in 2018. Over the years, he developed a deep passion not only for the mridangam but also for his teacher and the art of music itself.
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, he continued his classes online without any interruption. He actively participated in numerous concerts, competitions, and accompaniment performances for various music schools across the Bay Area.
One of his notable achievements was being selected to perform at the prestigious Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival in 2025. Only two students from the Bay Area were chosen for that concert, and both were from Sri Sharada School of Thala Vadya. Hari was proud to be one of those two selected students.
More recently, Hari participated in SiliconAndhra's “Layamruthavarshini” event as part of the organization's 75-year celebration. On August 2, 2026, he was also part of the Guinness World Record attempt organized during the event.
Hari's journey from a curious three-year-old child inspired by temple kirtans to an accomplished young mridangam artist has been marked by dedication, perseverance, and a genuine love for music.
— Hari's mother
Milestones Along the Way
A Spark at ISKCON Mountain View
At age three, Hari picked up a mridangam after Hari Nama Sankirtana and began playing and singing on his own.
First Lessons in Hyderabad
Enrolled in mridangam lessons with ISKCON devotees in India, he grasped the basics within a week.
Formal Training under Gopi Sir
Began formal mridangam training with Sri Gopi Lakshminarayanan, and started learning Carnatic vocal music around the same time.
Uninterrupted Through the Pandemic
Continued classes online without a break, performing in concerts, competitions and accompaniment for music schools across the Bay Area.
Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival
Selected as one of only two Bay Area students for the concert — both from Sri Sharada School of Thala Vadya.
Layamruthavarshini & a World Record
Performed in SiliconAndhra's Layamruthavarshini for its 75-year celebration and took part in the Guinness World Record attempt on August 2, 2026.
The Formal Debut
This Arangetram marks a major milestone and the beginning of the next chapter in Hari's musical journey.