While the significance of Sivaratri is in observing a fast and awakening through the night, of late the artiste community in Delhi and elsewhere believe in venerating lord Shiva in the cosmic dancer aspect of Nataraja through an offering of music and dance through the auspicious night.
Kuchipudi dance maestro couple Raja and Radha Reddy are into their third year of celebrating Shivaratri in a big way at their Rangmanch amphitheatre on the premises of their home. The best of classical dancers and musicians participate on the occasion at this venue which wears a festive look with its ethnic lights and cool ambience under the starry sky. Veteran Hindustani vocalists Rajan and Sajan Misra will grace the stage with their mellifluous rendition while dancers from outside the capital will enthusiastically participate on the occasion. Kuchipudi dancer Amrita Lahiri is being flown in from Singapore to give her solo recital while Bangalore-based Kathak couple Hari and Chetana would regale the audience with Kathak duet. Odissi danseuse Swapnakalpa Dasgupta from NCPA-Mumbai is also among the guest dancers. This apart Raja-Radha ensemble will present their home production as a homage to lord Shiva on this sacred night.
“We usually have an audience of 1200-1500 and most sit through the night’s performances which commence around 7.30 p.m. and go on past midnight, say till 1a.m.,” say the organisers at Natya Tarangini-the Reddy couple’s dance institute at Saket in New Delhi.
Bharatanatyam guru Saroja Vaidyanathan is celebrating this year’s Sivaratri in a unique way. “I am felicitating all the male gurus in the city. And 30 young male dancers will perform from 9.30 am to 7 p.m. It will be on my own premises,” says the veteran dancer. Male dancers and gurus are viewed as being symbolic of lord Nataraja. Last year, she conducted a non-stop, 27 hours dance performances where dancers streamed in and out of the stage without a gap.
In the exotic regions of upper Assam, the historical town of Shivsagar (Shibsagar) known for its unique temple for Shiva wakes up to Shivaratri with chiming temple bells ushering in hordes of pilgrims from in and around the state giving way to the Shivaratri festival in the evenings for three days showcasing the best artistes from across the country. A government initiative to turn the searchlight on this district, the cultural festival is held on a mega scale with food courts et al.
Ranee Kumar
