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Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati

 
 

Shiva-Parvati Vivaha
(Marriage of Shiva and Parvati) - a Solo Dance Ballet,
at Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, on 25th October 2009

Report by Shri I.D. Joshi

On the auspicious Durga-Ashtami Day, on 25th October 2009, in Omkarananda Vidya Bhawan, the Auditorium of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, the evening was vibrant and sparkling with dance demonstrations in the most perfect manner.

The organizer, Shrimati Usha Deviji and her Yoga students were given the opportunity to see the relation between the art of Indian Classical Dance and Yoga.

As it is the tradition before the beginning of a great event, the President of Omkarananda Ashram, Swami Vishveshwaranandaji and Narasimhuluji lighted the Deepas as an offering in front of Gurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, while chanting of the Vedic hymns by the priests was going on.

The event started with lighting of Deepas by
Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji and Shri Narasimhuluji
Smt. Meenakshi Gupta
compered the function
Students of Omkarananda Preparatory School performed dance to a nice Krishna Bhajan

The beginning of this function was a nice surprise, when small students of Omkarananda Preparatory School started with a beautiful dance item, a Bhajan, dedicated to Lord Krishna.

Afterwards some of these tiny kids reminded the audience in a joyful way to be silent during the function and of course cell phones should be switched off. Subsequently the audience was thrilled and had no other choice than to follow the children's request.

Finally one of the well-trained kids of Omkarananda Preparatory School, in surprisingly good English, welcomed the audience with a small speech.

Shrimati Meenakshi Gupta - Master of Ceremony - introduced Kumari Somashekhari, General Secretary of Swami Omkarananda Saraswati Charitable Trust, who is an expert in Bharatanatyam, Odissi and the Temple style of Kathak dance. Wearing a glittering Lahanga (traditional dance dress) and presenting a dance-item, composed by herself, Soma touched the hearts of the people, which they expressed in return with a great clapping. As Director of the Omkarananda Saraswati Natya Kala Academy, Soma has achieved distinction in Indian Classical Dance. She represents the pure, chaste Traditional Indian Classical Dance as practised in the Temples of India.



Kumari Somashekhari explains
the meaning of her dance
to the audience
Devi Dance by
Kumari Somashekhari

After a brief introduction by Meenakshi Gupta about the great artist, Mandakini Trivedi from Mumbai, who taught classical dance for ten years and has conceived and choreographed the dance ballet on Goddess Parvati, the final item started to come. To make the performance special, multimedia was used to show different pictures of the Goddess and Lord Shiva with recorded commentary.

Multimedia was used during Mandakini's dance-performance 
The story of Mandakini's dance performance was based on the renowned ancient Sanskrit classical epic 'Kumara Sambhava', a master piece of the great Sanskrit poet Kalidas, known as 'Shakespeare of India'.

The story is symbolic of the journey of any seeker who follows his muse. Shiva stands for Truth and Parvati for the seeker. The story is one woman's faith in the existence of Truth and her devotion for Truth.

Mandakini's Solo-Ballet was unique in the sense that it was a blend of different Indian classical styles - Bharatanatyam, Mohini Attam and Kathakali techniques.

However, the whole programme was a combination of three different, distinct approaches by tiny tots, the budding artists, the small lily-flower-like kids and the full-bloom artists, like Kumari Somashekhari and Mandakini with her varied coloured style. All these three consummated a rare precious evening.

Mandakini in her artistic costumes and make-up, appeared on the stage, her steps keeping in perfect rhythm and harmony to the tone of the music played, her gestures, her eye movements, expressed so effectively and conveyed a meaning of a long lasting experience. The audience was captivated by her various dance postures, gestures, and were transported into an ecstasy of joy. Above all, Somashekhari, being an artist herself, was full of praise for the artist's demonstration and for the different styles of the mystic themes.

     
Mandakini Trivedi narrates the story of the wedding of Shiva-Parvati through dance  Mandakini in a typical
Mohini-Attam Dance Pose
Mandakini as Lord Shiva

Finally, Swami Vishveshwarananda, President of the Ashram, in his Vote of Thanks appreciated the great performances of Mandakini Trivedi and of Kumari Somashekhari. He also spoke about the high value of Indian Classical Dance in relation with great Yogic experience. He blessed Mandakini with a Kalasha of Ganges water and flowers. Somashekhari honoured Mandakini with a shawl and garlanded her on the stage. Then Swami Vishveshwarananda honoured Usha Devi with a garland of flowers for her wonderful contribution for managing and organizing a well-planned function so nicely.

Dr. Rita Vats, Director of "Well Being" School in Delhi, honoured Kumari Somashekhari with a shawl and garlanded her on the stage, who deserves no less honour as she represents the true chaste, pure Indian Classical Dance and India's Vedic Culture. As a traditional Vedic Classical Dancer, she deserves much more than we can.

   
Usha Mataji, who organised this function, and Col. Sachdevaji  Mandakini expresses her Thanks to Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas

It was a great experience - it was a blend of art and spirituality - it was altogether indeed a mystic dance ballet and an ecstatic experience of the power of divine musical Indian Classical Dance.

Finally, the Chief Priest Suresh Panditji and Sanjay Panditji, together with all the Priests of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, performed the Arati for Gurudev Swami Omkarananda and for the blessings for all those, who have given the dance-performances and who have attended the beautiful evening.

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