Temple dance performed

Rajamahendravaram: The 34th Maha Sivarathri dance programme was held at Uma Markandeya Swamy Kalyana Mandapam, in connection with Maha Shivaratri festival at Sri Uma Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, under the aegis of veteran dance guru Dr Sappa Durga Prasad. He has been conducting the celestial fete for 34 years in the city.

As part of the temple dance programme, as many as 10 children gave their performance of Shaivagama Nrutyam at Nandi Mandapam in the temple which enthralled the devotees. Only in Rajamahendravaram will the temple dance be performed on the premises of the temple.   

Later, Pushpanjali was offered from the dais along with Sakala Devata Harathi by the children. Naga Harini, Satya Phani Sri, Navya Sri, Panooja, Arushi Durgambika, Shasravinda, Bhuvana, Lakshmi Sravanthi and Lakshmi Dakshitha performed in various forms.

Later, temple dance guru Dr Sappa Durga Prasad said that temple dance was an ancient dance form and underlined the need to spread it on a war-footing basis. Emperors and kings encouraged temple dance in those days, which can only be performed in the temples.