Lord Krishna’s Lila comes alive on stage

SD Sharma

Chandigarh, July 20

The three-day 7th Chandigarh National Classical Dance Festival organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Chandigarh, concluded with an impressive performance of ‘Sattriya’ dance by Guwahati-based dance ensemble ‘Ranga Mandali’ at Tagore Theatre here on Friday.

The intrusive city audience relished the colourful dances. Unlike other dance forms, ‘sattriya’ performance was a rarity in the region. Designed and choreographed by Sharodi Saikia, who pioneered this dance for female danseuses, presented five compositions weaved in ‘bhaona ankia naat’ tradition.

Artistes led by Sharodi Saikia opened up with an invocatory composition in laudation of Lord Krishna, which melted into the next ‘geetor nach’. Through the dance drama, ‘sharodi’ brought alive how ‘yashoda’ struggles to wake up her son, Krishna, and prepares him for grazing cattle at Vrindavan. Krishna puts her into embarrassment as the little child is caught red-handed while stealing butter from a gopika’s house. After a tempting ‘shloka nach’ based on ‘sholkas’ of the Gita, the troupe concluded with ‘shudh nritta’ dance.

The dance form with lyrics exuding spiritual fervor was embellished with lilting folk music, well measured, but slow movements kept the audiences’ interest alive.

Punita Bawa anchored all shows of festival. Sanjay Rao, IAS, was the chief guest on the occasion and honoured the artistes.