LEMONT: Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago (HTGC) in Lemont near Chicago, celebrated Mahashivaratri in a grand way with a cultural program that saw wide participation from across Chicagoland and Midwest
Besides classical dance performances from both South and North India, old devotionals were rendered through contemporary fusion. Performers ranged from six-year old kids to mothers dancing with their adult daughters.
As befitting this festival of ascetic Shiva’s awakening from the depths of prolonged meditation to the world of the senses, most items portrayed the god deploying his limbs in ecstasy (tandava), sometimes accompanied by consort Parvati’s gentle (lasya) dance.
Following a dhun from HTGC cultural committee, there was a tabla ensemble performed from Jugalbandi Academy of Tabla and Kathak Dance followed by “Om Namah Shivaya” a Kathak performance. Vidya Pandikaran depicted the wonder (kauthuvam) of Natesa’s vigorous solo dance through rapid footwork and expressive emotions in Kalakshetra style. Prefaced by the Maha Mritunjaya mantra, the fierce Rudra’s Omkara dance captivated all those present.
Accomplished Bharata Natyam pair, mother-guru Sowmya Kumaran and daughter-disciple Bhavya Kumaran, depicted the Androgyne (Ardhanareeswaram) to a garland of Carnatic ragas. Shruthi Sethuraman then joined the duo in performing Ananda Koothanin in Hamsanandi raagam. Pragnya Yogesh from Des Moines (Iowa) danced the solo part of the Moon-Crested (Chandra Chooda) god.
After a brief Kuchipudi dance, Mudra Dance Academy offered two pieces, traditional then fusion. Asha Acharya Performing Art Academy (AAPAA) offered six Bharata Natyam items, Shiva Stotram, recounting the Markandeya story.
Established in 1994, Tarana Dance Academy, presented three group dances. Artists’ performance was prefaced by Kathak in Teen Taal with the “Guru Brahma” verse. After rhythmic Tarana, there was the Shiva Tandava and the program concluded with a Tarana in raag Jana from Gurmeet’s Dancing Petals School.
Master of Ceremonies for the afternoon was Anju Lal.
Asian Media USA
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