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.
|