Maharashtra's Bharatnatyam exponents to perform in Tanjavur

Over 60 Bharatnatyam exponents from Maharashtra will be participating in the mega event 'Brhan-Natya-Yagna', a grand offering by 1000 dancers to commemorate the 1000th year at the Brihadeeswara Temple in Tamil Nadu on September 25.

The temple, also known as 'Rajarajeswaram', was built by King Rajajaja Chola in 1010 AD in Tanjavur and is the world's first complete granite temple.

"A thousand dancers will perform in unison at the temple premises for 10 selected verses from 'Karuvur Tiruvisaippa', a divine musical poem composed in Tamil by Guru Karuvur Thevar of Raja Chola who built the Brihadeeswara Temple," Jayashree Rajagopal, director of city-based Nrithyodaya told PTI.

'Brhan-Natya-Yagna' is organised jointly by Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India (ABHAI) and the Brhan Natyanjali Trust, Thanjavur and the exponents from Mumbai and Navi Mumbai include those from Nrithyodaya, Nritya Geethanjali and Takshashila Dance Academy.

"It is an exciting and great opportunity for several exponents of Bharatnatyam as everyone will be performing the same dance tuned to 'Pancha Ghana Ragas' -- Nattai, Gowlai, Aarabhi, Varali and Sriragam and choreographed movements by Padma Subramanyam, president of ABHAI," Rajagopal said, who is
also in charge of 'Bharatnatyam Rajarajeshwarm-1000' for
western India.

"Subramaniyam, who conceived the programme has prepared a DVD with the dances to be performed on September 25 and send it to all the Gurus of different schools of Bharatnatyam in the country and abroad so that they all can practice," she said.

Rajagopal said this mega event will be performed at 'Nandi Mandapam', the space around the huge sculpture of Nandi (bull) within the temple complex and will last for 30 minutes. 

"Although it was conceived by my Guru Padma Subramanyam, the Tamil Nadu government later took interest and will host the entire two-day programme for music and dance to celebrate the 1000 years of the living tradition and offer 'Shodho Upachara' (pay obeisance to Lord Shiva Brihadeeswara) and the king Rajaraja Chola," she said.

Gayatri Subramanian, director of Takshashila Dance Academy from Navi Mumbai said, "A call received in the last week of June to dance at the temple was like a magic wand. I was engulfed with an absolute sense of gratitude, bliss and a sense of completion. It felt as if the invitation had come from the Lord himself."

Jayashree Rao, a senior disciple of Rajee Narayanan of Nritya Geethanjali here said, "It is once in thousand year opportunity and we are looking for this great day." 

A student performer Kruttika Raman said, "It was like a dream come true when I got the news that I am going to be a part of the troupe of 1000 dancers from all across the globe, as I would perform for the first time in my native place that too as an offering to the Lord of Dance!!!"

Tamil Nadu government will provide accommodation and food to all artists, she said, adding more than 60 performers are going from Maharashtra of which 50 are from Mumbai, and others are from Pune, Nashik and Navi Mumbai.

Dancers from New Delhi, the southern states, and from Singapore, Malaysia and the US will also take part.

Padma Subramanyam said the whole purpose of bringing 1000 performers at one place to kindle an awareness among dancers about the connection between the temple and the dancers in olden times.

It is a Brhan-Natya-yagna, a grand offering by dancers to pay obeisance to Lord Brihadeeswara and to show their gratitude to the great king Raja Raja Chola, on the completion of 1000 years of the Brihadeeswara temple, she said. 

The Brihadeeswarar Temple or Peruvudaiyar Kovil is a brilliant example of the artistry and architecture of the 'Vishwakarmas' in temple architecture. 

"It is a tribute and a reflection of the power of its patron Rajaraja Chola I. It is one of the greatest glories of Indian architecture and is one of our most prized architectural sites and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the 'Great Living Chola Temples'," she said.

The Vimaana or the temple tower is 216 ft (66 m) high and is among the tallest of its kind in the world.