It was in June of 2007 that the New England teachers and the Sri Lakshmi Temple’s YCEP committee collaborated and presented the Nataraja rathothsavam and Aani Thirumanjanam program at the Sri Lakshmi temple for the first time, similar to the way it is celebrated at Shiva temples around the world and particularly at Chidambaram in South India.

Since then, year after year, dedicated dancers have paid their obeisance to their Sadguru, Lord Nataraja, at this auspicious event; several salangai poojas (blessings of a dancer’s bells) have been performed, arangetram (first solo debut) invitations blessed during this special program. Many dance teachers from the area prepare their students and themselves and bring out a unique presentation to Lord Nataraja. I have been blessed copiously to be a performer all these years as well as the Coordinator for the past few years.

Typically, the temple car (ratham) with Nataraja and His consort, Shivakami, is taken in procession around the temple after the holy bath (thirumanjanam). While the special couple give darshan outside the temple for the day, this offering of dance, “natya samarpana” happens outdoors!

This year’s program on July 5, 2014, added one more feather to the cap. Goddess Mother and Lord Nataraja could not have blessed us aptly – perfect weather, sincere and dedicated devotees paying utmost attention to the performers and the performers themselves focused on their dance not minding the uneven floor; they knew in their minds that Lord Nataraja was with them – watching and blessing them!

The event started with welcome address by YCEP Chairperson, Shri Shanmugam. The invocation piece I presented was “natana poojai seyvom vaareere”, a composition of Gopalakrishna Bharathi, inviting all to an offering of dance and described the respect to be paid to the stage and the instruments and seeking the divinity that is inherent in all living beings.

The second item was “yaar adinar ini evar aduvar” by Naveena Shanmugam, a disciple of Smt. Sridevi Thirumalai of the Natyamani School of dance. Composed by Sri. Madurai Sethuraman, the lyrics describe the matchless dance by Shiva, with His consort, Parvathi, to the accompaniment of the elements. Naveena did an excellent job portraying the dance at the Chithsabha in Chidambaram.

Shreya Hegde, my student at Natyanjali, presented the pure dance piece – jathiswaram in ragam Atana. Traditionally, it is a popular number in a Kuchipudi repertoire and consisted of second and third speed tempos which Shreya handled very well.

“Thandai muzhanga”, by Neha Bambhani was next. Neha is a student of Smt. Sangeetha Vijayasarathy at Natya Sudha and is a second generation dancer, who has been performing at this event for the past few years now. Neha highlighted the vatsalya bhavam/motherly love of Parvathidevi towards her son, baby Muruga/Karthikeya.

Saint Purandaradasa’s rare composition on Lord Shiva, “Chandrachuda Shiva” by Shreya Hegde followed. Shreya vividly portrayed the story of Markandeya, Shiva becoming Neelakanta by swallowing the poison that came out of the churning of the ocean and the fate of Manmadha. In all, it was proof to the composer’s words that Shiva is an ardent devotee, “parama Vaishnavanu”.

No presentation on Shiva is ever complete without this time-tested piece – natanam adinar! Shruti Das and Nidhi Yabannavar, students of Smt. Poornima Risbud at the Rasarang School presented this brisk and robust item quite well.

Danielle Zabar, student of Smt. Neena Gulati at the Triveni School of dance, brought quite a different flavor to that afternoon’s presentation with the “nritya laya vinyasa”. This is a traditional instrumental item, wherein the reed instrument, thavil, is used. Danielle presented this energetic piece with ease.

Neha presented the piece, Shiva Stuthi next. She got us all immersed in the deep lyrics of the item and the bliss was all in the air!

Mahima Subramanian and Meghna Iyer, my students at Natyanjali, presented another popular piece on Shiva – Shankara shrigiri, composed by Maharaja Swati Thirunal. The audience enjoyed the jugalbandi between the cymbals and the dancers, quite well and the dancers enjoyed themselves presenting it.

The finale was a fitting one – enneramum un sannidhiyil, presented by senior dancer and teacher, Smt. Sangeetha Vijayasarathy. A deeply emotive piece on Lord Shiva, the composer calls on Shiva to bless him with an eternal place on His abode; Sangeetha’s guru, Sri. V.P. Dhananjayan sir’s choreography shone through in every move of Sangeetha’s and it was a spiritual treat to watch!

Several in the audience reflected on how much they look forward to this simple yet sovereign token of obeisance offered by the New England dancers to Lord Nataraja and wish that this ancient tradition continues on! May Lord Nataraja and Goddess Lakshmi bless all the tireless volunteers who help bring this event for many years to come.

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