Here are my thoughts at the end of this year's Navaratri season. This is my favourite time in India. The daily GOLU visits to friends old and new. Houses decorated with colourful dolls and figurines from the epics - some handed down from mother to daughter over 50 and 60 years ago. The chatter of women's voices. The chickpea SUNDAL snack that is served everywhere. October 2nd is the end of the festival and DUSSERA - the 10th day - is celebrated as VIJAYA DASAMI in South India. It is not just the marker for Devi Durga's triumph over darkness, ignorance and sloth but also a new awakening of the mind and the body to fresh possibilities. This is the season for new beginnings, especially fresh learning. Account books are balanced, Goddess Lakshmi worshipped, Saraswati invoked and manufacturing pauses on the 9th day to honour the machines and devices that we use daily. Writers place books, painters their brushes, musicians their instruments and dancers their ankle bells. IPads and laptops, anything that is part of the profession, is placed in the sacred prayer space. On that day, we are supposed to pause and rest; for dancers, it is our body, the machine. That is the main instrument which creates the art of dance.
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What a beautifully articulated reflection! 🌸🙏 Your words truly capture the challenges, the gaps, and also the immense possibilities in the world of classical Indian dance today. I couldn’t agree more about the unparalleled contribution of Ashish Khokar ji—his tireless passion and selfless work are a guiding light for so many of us. Yes, the dream of creating a sustainable and nurturing ecosystem for classical arts is something we all hope and strive for. With rasikas like you voicing these truths, and with collective vision and patronage, I truly believe this divine art form will continue to blossom and inspire generations ahead. Thank you for penning this so thoughtfully—it gives strength and hope to every dancer like me. 🌺✨
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading and reflecting. Best wishes
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