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Aesthetic salute to Lord Krishna
The chaste marble shrine Birla Mandir provided a splendid backdrop for the two-day dance festival conducted by Natya Swara in the weekend. The devotees thronged to see the sparkling Bharatanatyam programme by Smitha Madhav and her students on Saturday. Mallari by the students appropriately started the evening.
The chaste marble shrine Birla Mandir provided a splendid backdrop for the two-day dance festival conducted by Natya Swara in the weekend. The devotees thronged to see the sparkling Bharatanatyam programme by Smitha Madhav and her students on Saturday. Mallari by the students appropriately started the evening.
As the deity is ceremonially carried in procession with great fanfare, attendants hold sacred sticks and devotees play various musical instruments including the Tavil and Nagaswaram, which are an integral part of temple worship. Smitha performed the mangalam mellifluously, originally a part of the Bhajan Sampradayam and now a part of the classical dance repertoire.
This brisk invocatory piece praises the Lord, inviting him into the heart and invoking his grace for the ensuing performance. Alarippu was by the students, pure Nritta without Abhinaya. Lord Krishna was the subject of a Kannada piece by Smitha and a Shabdam by her students. The central Varnam was chosen from Divya Prabhandam, the compositions of the Alwars.
Vatsalya Bhakti effuses as Yashoda beseeches Krishna's presence so she can show her maternal affection. An Annamacharya song ‘Okapari’ followed, beautifully executed by Bhargavi and Haritha. ‘Cheliye’ depicting Radha coaxing Krishna to accompany her was by Smitha Madhav who showed her skill in Abhinaya. Kollatam by all concluded the performance.
Sunday had a scintillating Kuchipudi recital by Dr Himabindu Kanoj and troupe. Himabindu and her senior student Srivalli started with a Dikshitar prayer to Lord Ganesha. Himabindu went on to perform ‘Mahadeva Siva Sambho’ which portrayed Siva and the story of Ganga caught in his locks and being released at Bhagiratha's behest which was a masterpiece.
A Jatiswaram by the students in Athana Raagam followed. The lyrical Nama Ramayanam consisting of 108 lines in Raagamalika by Himabindu and her students depicted the story of Rama forming a picturesque choreographic tableaux. Thillana in Khamas with Mangalam rounded off the programme.
By:Anna Rao Gangavalli
