Distribution of special Nattiya Kalaa Nibuna awards to three outstanding women artistes and Bharathanatyam performance marked the inaugural of the five-day ‘Nattiyanjali -2018’ dance festival here on Wednesday.
The Nattiyanjali-2018 has been brought up jointly by the District Music School, Sona College of Technology, Salem Amateur Arts and Trust, Shanmuga Hospital, and Sri Vidyavani Vidyalaya at the Sona college auditorium.
K. Shankar, City Police Commissioner, was the chief guest.
He gave away the awards to Archana Narayanamoorthy of Chennai, Abarna Ramesh of Salem, and Anuradha Swaminathan of Thanjavur.
Mr. Shankar said that all traditional art forms should be preserved. Necessary awareness should be created among the younger generation about these art forms.
Artistes should leave no stone unturned to take the traditional art forms to the next generation.
Performing the folk and other traditional dance forms rejuvenated the minds of the people, he added.
D.J. Rajendran, Assistant Commandant General of Home Guards; P.S. Panneerselvam, managing director, Shanmuga Hospital; S. Sankararaman, headmaster, Government Music School; and Rasi K. Saravanan, secretary of the Salem Amateur Arts Trust; offered felicitations.
B. Hemanathan, regional assistant director of Department of Art and Culture, explained the objectives of the Nattiyanjali event.
Archana Narayanamoorthy troupe from Chennai and Abarna Ramesh troupe from Salem presented Bharathanatyam, and Rekharaju troupe from Chennai presented Mohiniyattam on the inaugural day.
