Cultural fora in Tiruchi organised a series of classical dance and music shows as part of Maha Sivaratri festivities, which saw artistes from near and far flocking to the city since the beginning of the week.
Naalathe Trust, a group of teachers of Bharatanatyam and related arts based in Tiruchi, hosted 300 artistes, who performed at Sri Thayumanaswamy Temple, Rockfort Temple, Sri Akilandeswari Jambukeshwarar Temple in Thiruvanaikovil and Sri Erumbeeswarar Temple, Tiruverumbur, from February 12 to 14.
The programme had visiting artistes from all over the country, shortlisted through an application process.
Among the highlights was a performance by the Mumbai-based troupe led by Tamanna Ritesh Nair held at Sri Thayumanavar Sannidhi on Tuesday, and a presentation by the disciples of Saikripa Prasad, founder, KRIPA’s Centre for Fine Arts, Chennai, at the 100 Pillars Mandapam, Rock Fort. Students of Sreelatha Vinod, president of Prayathnam forum for dance, Chennai, presented a recital on Wednesday at the same venue.
Naalathe’s own students (120 pupils trained by 11 teachers) performed at Rock Fort and Thiruverumbur temples.
Naadhabrahmam’s ‘Maha Sivaratri Akhandam’ held at Sri Akilandeswari Jambukeswarar Temple in Thiruvanaikovil on Wednesday had water conservation as its theme this year. “Water scarcity has become a major problem all over the world today. And since the Thiruvanaikovil shrine is a ‘neer kshetra’, abounding in water, we decided that our Maha Sivaratri programme should reflect on that,” said Naadhabrahmam founder N. Subramanian, who has been hosting the event for the past 15 years.
Vocal concerts by Binni Krishnakumar and K. Krishnakumar, T.S. Pattabiram Pandit, and Jaya Bhargavi were interspersed with a Bharatanatyam performance by Swarnamalya Ganesh. ‘Thevaram Innisai Panniru Thirumurai’ by vocalist K.R. Easwaran drew the event to a close.
The 22nd edition of ‘Salangai Natyanjali’, conducted by Salangai Academy of Indian Classical Arts, saw 55 artistes perform at Sri Akhilandeswari Jambukeswarar Temple. The evening featured performances by students of Chennai-based institutions Eashvar Dance Academy, Nataraja Nrithyavedi Natya Kalakshetram and Sanchala School of Bharatanatyam. Shivaarpanam by performed by the disciples of Vijaya Mukundan and Sri Mukundan, founders of Salangai Academy of Indian Classical Arts. A ‘kavadi chindu’ dance was also performed.
