North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala (Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India) is organizing ‘Classical and Contemporary Dance Festival of India 2018’ at Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh from August 10 to 12, 2018 at 06.30 pm onwards daily.
Prof. Saubhagya Vardhan, Director, NZCC, Patiala informed that for the first time in Chandigarh, such dance festival is being organized in which Guru along with group will perform on the stage.
Hon’ble Governor of Haryana, Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki was the Chief Guest on the second day of the festival. Padma Shree Ms. Malini Awasthi, Smt. Shobha Koser, Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh, Sh. Kranti Mohan Pathak, Patron, Sanskar Bharti, Chandigarh, Smt. Kadambri Vardhan and other distinguished guests also graced the said occasion.
The festival opened with a presentation designed, directed and choreographed by Padmashree Shovana Narayan which is based on “Oneness of all existence” of Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy is represented through the unity of Vishnu and Shiva as different aspects of the same Ultimate Reality called the Brahman.This concept of equivalence of various gods as one principle is the underlying theme of “Namami Hari-Hara”. The evening that has a garland of choreographic compositions, begins with an invocation to Adideva, Lord Shiva through “Bho Shambho” composed by Sri Swami Dayananda Saraswati. This is followed by traditional Kathak rhythmic patterns that mirror imageries of Hari-Hara through cadenced abstraction. The equivalence of both forms of the Supreme Lord is seen through the Gokuldham meeting of Lord Shiva and baby Krishna who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This episode also subtly underlines the message that parental love is superior to the mood of servitorship.The joy of Lord Shiva holding baby Krishna in his arms and chanting the Gopala Sahasra Nama Stotra, spreads joy in the universe reflected through the joyous dance involving the “nirgit”. Advaita Vedanta emphasizes Jivanmukti.This is illustrated in an extension of this philosophy, namely the idea ofmokshabeing freedom, liberation, through the episode of Draupadi who is liberated from the perils facing her at her disrobement by Lord Krishna. But finally, the colours of unity of the two personifications of Hari and Hara are mirrored in the colours of Holi where barriers and boundaries get eliminated signifying “oneness of all”. The cast of the show were – PadmashriShovana Narayan, KomalBiswal, Sonam Chauhan, Anil Khinchi, Ashish Kathak accompanied by Ustad Shakeel Ahmed Khan (tabla), Madho Prasad (vocal, music composer), Mahaveer Gangani (pakhawaj) and Azhar Shakeel (violin). Harish Jain was the technical director of the show. The artiste won hearts of audience with their performance. People from all walks of the society appreciated the performances made by the artists.
Prof. Saubhagya Vardhan, Director, NZCC, Patiala informed that the festival will be concluded with the presentation of ‘Namami Gange’ a Bharatnatyam dance presentation on August 12, 2018 by Padmashree and Padma Bhushan Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan & troupe.
