Ashok Vyas’ Heramba Art and Culture Center had its soft launch with three mystical plays written by him.
BY PARVEEN CHOPRA
Edison, NJ, May 16, 2026: Hindi plays – that too with mystical themes! It was a rare presentation by the Heramba Art and Culture Center, in collaboration with Prayog Natya Sanstha. The plays were not enacted as on stage, but came close in impact with a dramatic reading. Titled “Beyond Understanding”, it was an enjoyable cultural afternoon on May 9 hosted under a cozy tent by Abhishek Mishra at his residence.
The program featured dramatic readings of three original Hindi natak (plays). The unifying theme, “Beyond Understanding,” ran through the short plays, each exploring the impact of mystical events and miraculous coincidences that leave a tangible imprint on human life. Each reading was followed by an interactive question‑and‑answer session with two scores and more invited guests, creating a warm, soulful atmosphere.
The plays were written by Ashok Vyas, a New York-based poet, Hindu priest and longtime television host, known for over 25 years of his shows on ITV Gold. Vyas is also the creator of the YouTube channel HerambaStudio, dedicated to positive content and spreading awareness of universal oneness in the light of Vedanta.
The first play, “Agyat Ka Bhay” (Fear of the Unknown), follows the journey of a disillusioned man struggling with meaninglessness and suicidal thoughts. An unplanned visit, along with his wife, to the Mishra residence becomes a turning point. Through a series of seemingly chance events, intertwined with mysterious happenings at the Mishra home, he gradually regains his cheerful self. The story touches on the fine line between coincidence and divine grace, drawing on successive, inexplicable manifestations of the divine, including the formation of a Shivalinga in snow and the appearance of Lord Krishna’s form on tiles. Abhishek and Namita Mishra played themselves, joining other artists in the reading of the play.
The second play, “Mystical Chai”, can be described as a spiritual suspense drama for the age of social media and artificial intelligence. Centered on a New Jersey lad and his deep devotion to Mother Goddess, the play raises probing questions about our understanding of truth and how, by divine will, what we deem impossible can become possible.
The third play, “Chief Controller,” widens the canvas to include faith, humanity, divine protection and unseen forces, while examining the influence of AI‑driven technological growth on human confidence and conviction. The key characters are founders of a technology company with revenue exceeding four billion dollars, one of whom firmly believes he is shielded by a lok devta, Gala Bhomiya ji from Rajasthan. The play underlines the need for a proactive effort to safeguard human sensitivity in an era of exponential technological development – a theme that strongly resonated with the audience.
The event also marked the soft launch of New York-based Heramba Art and Culture Center, which has been active for several years through HerambaStudio in presenting dharmic, spiritual and mental health programs.
Abhishek Mishra welcomed guests, many of them Hindi lovers, to the event. Ameeya Mehta spoke about the journey of New Jersey based Prayog Natya Sanstha headed by him. Vineeta Khanna, founder of Orator Academy, delighted guests with a bhajan of Sant Kabir and a ghazal. Among the distinguished guests were Parveen Chopra, founder of ALotusInTheMud.com, yoga exponent Vijay Trivedi, Pradeep Agarwal of Vishwa Hindi Nyas, Raj Mittal of Hindi USA, Dr Om Sharma – founder of GICA Hanuman mandir, and Ashok Ojha – Program Director of Yuva Hindi Sansthan.
In a fitting conclusion, Namita Mishra offered thanks to the plays’ writer, director, artists and the audience. Several guests also visited the house to witness the remarkable signs of what many experienced as miraculous divine imprints, bringing the afternoon’s theme, “Beyond Understanding”, to life in a deeply personal way.
A sumptuous vegetarian lunch was enjoyed by all.
