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HT City Delhi Junction offers diverse events: Vicky Roy's photo exhibition at Vadehra Art Gallery, Kuchipudi recital at Stein Auditorium, media heritage talk, comedy show at Happy High, and London Market artisan event across Delhi-NCR, mostly free entry.

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Indian Express

13-06-2025

• Indian Express

Pune to celebrate Odisha's Raja tradition with classical dances, message of menstrual hygiene

Since ancient times in Odisha, the first showers of the monsoon have marked the beginning of a festival that celebrates Mother Earth's menstruation and her preparation for motherhood. It was called Raja, from the term Rajaswala, and marked the time when the earth becomes fertile and can receive seeds that will yield a rich harvest. 'During this period, girls are treated like queens. They adorn themselves in traditional outfits, enjoy swings, indulge in delicacies, such as poda pitha and chenna poda, and participate in cultural activities. The festival subtly spreads awareness about menstrual hygiene through traditional practices, including the consumption of cooling foods, such as Raja paan,' says Nikshita Sarangi, an Odissi dancer and trustee of the Pune-based Kalinga Kala Kendra Trust. On June 15, the Kalinga Kala Kendra Trust will celebrate the power of menstruation and the essence of motherhood through an elaborate display of Indian classical dances. Raja Mahotsav 2025 will feature nine classical dances — Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, Kathakali, Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, sattriya, Odissi and Gaudiya Nritya. 'In olden times, Raja used to be a four-day rest period for Mother Earth when people would not burden the earth with loud sounds, step on her with heavy footwear or put too much pressure on her. Young, unmarried girls were given rest from household chores. Neighbors invite girls to their homes. But, how do we know that Mother Earth is menstruating? It is said that an elephant trumpets at the time, signaling the onset of rainfall when the earth becomes soft,' says Sarangi. Hence, the highlight of the festival will be the famous Odissi dance piece, Banaste Dakila Gaja (An elephant is trumpeting in the forest), which has, traditionally been a part of Raja celebrations. This will be performed by Swagatika Mahapatra, Rashmita Prasad, Smita Das and Arunima Mohanty with disciples of Odissi dancer Madhumita Mishra. The nine classical dances come together in a series, Nritya Navratna. The performers cover a cross-section of India, from Odissi dancer Pujayita Bhattacharya being from Odisha, Gaudiya Nritya performer Paulomi Sakhalkar coming from West Bengal, Suja Dinkar of Kerala showcasing Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi by Dhanya Menon of Andhra Pradesh, Kathak by Mausumi Roy Dev of Uttar Pradesh, Kathakali by Paromita Mukherjee of Kerala, Manipuri by Sumana Chatterjee of Manipur, Sattriya by Yosha Roy of Assam and Bharatanatyam by Priya Bhattacharya of Tamil Nadu. The event will also feature a folk dance of Odisha, Rangabati. 'Every element of Raja will be on stage, from the jhula to the traditional foods of the festival. Swinging on a jhula has been associated with Raja as it empowers women to feel free to explore the world, and be in a happy mood. Healthy hormones ensure a healthy menstrual cycle and healthy motherhood for the future,' says Sarangi. The event will crown all the dancers 'as all the performers of Raja Mahotsav are queens'. 'We will also be talking about Operating Sindoor on stage,' says Sarangi. Dipanita Nath is interested in the climate crisis and sustainability. She has written extensively on social trends, heritage, theatre and startups. She has worked with major news organizations such as Hindustan Times, The Times of India and Mint. ... Read More

The Hindu

11-06-2025

• The Hindu

A Kuchipudi recital explores Krishna's persona

When thematic dance performances are the order of the day, watching one based on traditional repertoire was refreshing. D. Dilip and Rasika Rajagopalan presented a Kuchipudi dance recital, organised by Saila Sudha, at Rasika Ranjani Sabha, in Chennai. Titled 'Mugdha Madhavam', the performance consisted of compositions devoted to Krishna. The dancers, in colour-coordinated costumes, began with 'Kasturi thilakam', a prayer from Krishna Karnamritam by Bilavangala. Next came the Niroshta Raga Svaravali (composed by Bhagavatulu Seetharama Sharma), which was marked by energetic dancing. The piece also stood out for synchronised movements and sculpturesque poses. Performances based on Krishna songs would be incomplete without a Jayadeva Ashtapadi. Here, Rasika presented an Ashtapadi, 'Radhika krishna radhika tava virahe keshava', choreographed by Vempati Chinna Satyam, as a solo abhinaya piece. She brought out well the emotions of love and separation. The union of jivatma and paramatma added a philosophical slant to the visualisation. Narayana Tirtha composition, 'Govardhanagiridhara' (a story of Indra's wrath resulting in torrential downpour and Krishna lifting the Govardhan mountain to protect Gokul) followed. It was explored through a seamless flow of movements and expressions. The interface between the jathis in varied beats and footwork patterns was executed well on the brass plate. The choice of the Atana raga Oothukadu Venkata Kavi song 'Madura madura venu geetham', a solo exploration by Dilip, was filled with imageries of how birds and animals reacted to the melody from Krishna's flute. Dilip's agility and grace made the piece delightful. The performance concluded with Brindavana Saranga tillana, composed by M. Balamuralikrishna. The melodious voice of Aparna Keshav was supported by Karaikal Venkata Subramaniam on the violin, Haribabu on the mridangam and Saumya Ramesh on the veena. Sailaja conducted the recital.

Time of India

10-06-2025

• Time of India

Remembering Vijaya Bhanu: The 70's star who dedicated her life to classical dance

Veteran actress and classical dancer Vijaya Bhanu, aged 72, passed away in Chennai due to a heatstroke. Known for her extensive work in South Indian cinema and her contributions to classical dance, she acted in over 100 films and founded Sri Shakti Sharada Nritya Niketan in Los Angeles. Her sister plans to publish a book honoring her life and legacy. Her final visit to Chennai — meant to check on her ancestral home — proved to be her farewell. Last month, veteran actress and classical dancer Vijaya Bhanu passed away in the city after suffering a heatstroke. She was 72. Vijaya Bhanu's sister, Dr Sindhoori Jayasinghe, issued an official press note sharing the news of her sister's demise and honouring her memory. 'My sister was an angel and a true warrior. She illuminated countless lives and was a role model for many. As a tribute, we plan to publish a comprehensive book on her life. Jayaprada, a close friend, attended her funeral in Chennai. It was my sister's inspiration that brought me to the US, where I now run a dance school. We aim to ensure her story is told with dignity,' she said. An ambassador of Indian classical dance At the peak of her career, she married an American and settled in Los Angeles. There, she founded Sri Shakti Sharada Nritya Niketan, training thousands in Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, and Kathakali. She was conferred the Natyamayuri title and performed extensively around the world. Despite her life abroad, she stayed deeply connected to her roots. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Vijaya Bhanu is survived by her husband and daughter in the United States. A legacy of over 100 films A star of 1970s South Indian cinema, Vijaya Bhanu acted in over 100 films across Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi. Her comedic pairing with Rajababu was iconic, and she shared the screen with NTR, Kamal Haasan, Shobhan Babu, and Chiranjeevi. She won the Nandi Award for Idi Katha Kaadu.