The biblical Dance of Salome was an inspiration at a birthday in Delhi last weekend. The day was dedicated to a girl nicknamed Tiny and the dance gestures enacted were not those of ancient times but of the present day. The birthday coincided with the martyrdom of John the Baptist 2000 years ago. Incidentally, it took place on another birthday, that of King Herod of Jerusalem and the dancer was the beautiful but cunning Salome. She was the daughter of Herodias, the King’s sister-in-law, whom Herod had made his wife, after the conspiratorial murder of his brother Philip. John the Baptist had condemned “the sinful couple”.
Salome danced with great abandon and Herod was fascinated. He told her to ask for anything and that he would give it to her even if it was half of his kingdom. Salome sought her mother’s advice who whispered that she should ask for the head of the John the Baptist. Herod was taken aback and told her to wish for something else instead as he and his subjects feared John who was regarded as a prophet. But the girl refused. So Herod thought he had to keep his word and maintain his dubious honour before his courtiers. John was executed and his head brought on a platter to Salome. She passed it on to her mother who was glad that she had exacted her revenge.
The heinous act however has not been forgotten over the centuries. Tiny and her friends observed the anniversary by depicting the Dance of Salome (unlike the one in a famous Hollywood film) in their own way, with Teej flavour. A befitting tribute all the same to John the Baptist, Christ’s cousin and the one who performed his baptism and that of many others in the river Jordan.
