Meditation, Devotion And Affection: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR MEDITATION, DEVOTION AND AFFECTION

Another evening at the 'village' and another state's folks to the stage with
their arts. Like all evenings of the fifteen-day festival of arts and crafts,
this evening also saw a host of folk dance and street theater at Shilparamam.
What was new, though, was the Odissi dance by the dancers from Bhuvaneshvar. Disciples
of Guru Ranbir Charan - over eight graceful dancers - created an intricate scenario
on the stage. Adorned with shimmering silver jewelry, broad waistbands and yellow
and white costumes, the dancers performed the artistic rituals of the temple dancers
of Orissa.

From the Mangalacharan, which evoked the spirits of the divine, to the
purely rhythmic 'Pallavi', and from a devotional Keertan and the romantic Astapadi
to the Moksha, the whole presentation was so taut as to prevent anyone
from winking their eyes. Moksha was especially riveting for its attempt at creating
that stillness of thought, like in meditation. Sonali Mahapatra led the troupe
of these lyrical dancers.