Dasara celebrations in Mangalore saw a cultural extravaganza. Unique among them was a programme, Yoga Vaividhya put up by the primary school students that showcased Yoga as an entertaining medium as against the usual use of the form as an exercise. It was held at the Mangaladevi Temple as a part of the cultural programme of Mallika Kalavrinda.
Different forms
In all 21 children performed. The highlight of the programme was the entertainment element brought into the traditional form of Yoga. Children exhibited Lord Ganesha as different flowers using various simple yogasanas like the Ganapati Nritya Yoga Vaibhava. Sixteen children performed this item.
The Vande Mataram act by a single student showed the wide variety of yogasanas. Shekar Kadtala, yoga trainer, said that his teams, comprising both primary and high school students, mostly from rural areas, have given 60 such performances in the last three years.
Team effort
In the programme 16 primary school children showed Goddess Lakshmi in 12 different forms by performing various yogasanas and also formed a shrine for the goddess with each performing a different asana. The kolata was performed by six students using simple asanas such as Paripoorna Urdhwa Namana Asana, Trikona Asana, Adhomukha Shwanasana to name a few. Deekshith, a student of Std X, SDM Mangalajyoti School, who is a team member and also a participant for past three years in national level yoga competition, says that unlike other cultural performances, the performer here does not experience any tension. The form not only provides entertainment, but also gives peace of mind.
The children who participated in the programme unanimously agreed that the unique act has also improved their concentration and boosted their intelligence. Further, it helps students from rural areas to showcase their talent in a unique manner.
