Metropolitan cities of India have become ultra-modern, adapting a western life style that could be detrimental to your health and well being but Indian classical music and dance is a fine representative of India’s rich cultural heritage which is acclaimed globally. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the International Dance Day was celebrated in a unique manner with the inclusion of “Salangai Pooja –Gajje Pooja” (Offering of the dancing bells at the lotus feet of Almighty), a traditional ritual in which the dancing bells are offered to the Gods to seeks their blessings and also to enhance the divinity of the ceremony, which was practiced for ages but almost in vogue now, except in some exceptional cases. This ceremony was organised by Saraswati Kala Kendra and Research Centre, one of the leading cultural institutions of the western suburbs of Mumbai, functioning for almost three decades, headed by accomplished Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi exponent and mentor, Guru Subitha Murali. The programme was held on 24th April at the beautiful Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar Auditorium in Mumbai.
Just before the Arangetram (debut performance) of the young dancer, she seeks divine blessings of the Gods, the Guru and the parents for the successful completion of the Margam (repertoire), hence in other words this is a ceremony in which the divine intervention is seeked, invited and prayed for, as Indian classical dances is spiritually deep rooted and all the interpretations revolve around the Hindu Gods . The dancing bells are offered to the Almighty, after the prayers, the young dancer steps lightly on rice grains, seeking the pardon of mother Earth and then starts dancing on the floor. The dancing bells is gifted by the mentor(Guru) to the students, blesses them, for better learning and understanding. After wearing the bells, they then proceed on to complete the items they have learnt, commencing with Pushpanjali (offering of flowers to the presiding deities), Ganapati Kautvam, traditional Alarippu that introduces the technique of Bharata Natyam to the audience, the Kalyani Jatiswaram that forms a fine synthesis of music, melody and rhythm, Murugan Kautavam, Expressive Sabdam and the piece-de-resistance of the evening was the dramatic display of Ashta Lakshmi, the eight incarnations of Maha Lakshmi, pertaining to Dhana Lakshmi, Santana Lakshmi, Dairya Lakshmi, Vijaya Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi etc seeking their blessings for prosperity and well being. The dancers were Tashvi Poojary, Priya Mali, Caron Chettiar, Avisha Sharma, Mrunali Pawar and Kavipriya Thansing and Venkatesh.
Musically the dancers were well supported by Guru Subitha Murali for natuvangam, Shivaprasad for vocal rendering, Prajesh Nair for mridangam,Krishnan Natarjan for violin and Bharata Raj for flute. Comperes were Murali Kumar and Venkatesh Kumar.
Natya Sharada Guru Subitha Murali is the disciple of Dr Rajyalakshmi Seth and as part of the Women Empowernment programme of the Perfect Women magazine, she was honoured with the Mrs India Intellecctual title in 2018, she has performed for several prestigious festivals in India and abroad and also organizes the Nritya Tarangani International festival of Music and Dance every year. Guru Subitha says “ I am grateful to the support of the parents, department of culture of the Maharashtra Government, Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Ministry of Culture,Government of India”.
