The grace of gratefulness and the activism behind Thanksgiving - Soch: Column by Dr. Arshiya Sethi

At the recently concluded seven day dance festival and seminar, evocatively titled "Looking Back to Move Forward," organised by Odissi, Chhau and Manipuri dancer and guru, Sharon Lowen, under the aegis of her organisation Manasa-Art Without Frontiers, something happened that impressed me very much, set my mind buzzing and compelled me to write this piece, the second in the series 'Soch'- a thought.


Young, Vilasini and Bharatanatyam dancer Purva Dhanashree, recipient of the Bismillah Khan Yuva Puruskar (2008), spoke in a session on 'Transitions and Traditions'. She opened her address by offering her gratitude and thanksgiving to generations of Devadasis that had practiced dance before her and nurtured and enriched it since centuries. 

Read more in the site