Dances on Indian culture performed

• 2-day national-level Nandi Dance Festival of Sri Sai Natyanjali begins
• 350 participants from all over the country exhibiting their talent

Tirupati: Sri Sai Natyanjali of Nandyal in Kurnool district has been organising its 3rd national-level ‘Nandi Dance Festival–2018’ at Mahati Auditorium here for two days which began on Saturday.

About 350 classical dancers have reached Tirupati from across the country to showcase their talent in two days of hectic schedule. Perhaps due to inclement weather conditions, there was a poor turnout of audience in the morning session at the auditorium which disappointed the organisers.

“We were unable to publicise the dance festival widely due to bad weather, observed,” the Festival Director and one of the founders of Sri Sai Natyanjali Pallamsetty Suresh.

“We are expecting more audience from Saturday evening and on Sunday. But, our main aim was to bring classical dancers from various states to one place to echo our age-old culture which has been gradually overshadowed by western dance and music,” maintained Suresh.

After organising the first two festivals at Nandyal and Mahanandi, they have chosen Tirupati for their third edition. “This is not a competition.

The selected dancers from different states will come and perform in the festival. All the participants will be given ‘Bronze Nandi’ and certificate,” he disclosed.

Representing the nine Nandis around Nandyal through which the city got its name, the organisers have been naming the Nandi each year with a different name and in view of Tirupati Tirumala importance, they called it this time as ‘Garuda dance Nandi’ which will be given to the participants.

Similarly, they present ‘Vishnu dance Nandi’ awards to all the dance teachers, who are taking part in the event.

Three eminent Gurus were selected for giving away the ‘Maha Nandi’ award. The recipient of Sangeet Natak Academy award Dr Vedantam Radheshyam, Principal of Sri Siddhendra Kalakshetram, Kuchipudi Dr Vedantam Ramalinga Sastry and State Government’s Kalarathna awardee Sarada Rama Krishna will receive Maha Nandi award on Sunday.

Festival Director Suresh said that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Government of AP has been extending all cooperation to them in organising this mega event besides some other sponsors.

Apart from teaching Kuchipudi dance to youngsters in Nandyal, the founders of Sri Sai Natyanjali B Ramdas and P Suresh have been taking up various other activities.

They provided livelihood for four people by employing them and were running an auto rickshaw which collects no money from pregnant women, physically challenged persons and aged people.

Also, they were organising plantation programmes and giving away green awards to the students. Meanwhile, the dance performances by young children drew huge applause from the audience and it gave them a pleasant experience.