A Dance for Durga

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Eminent Odissi danseuse fashions special composition on Goddess Durga

 

By Ajitha Menon

Kolkata

Sept. 29, 2007

 

Eminent Odissi danseuse Sanchita Bhattacharya has

fashioned a special composition depicting the nine

different forms of Goddess Durga.

 

'Navadurga' or nine different forms of Durga, is the

dancer's tribute to Goddess of Power before a nine-day

Navratri festival dedicated to the deity in October.

 

Hindus believe that Goddess Durga descends on earth

during the Navratri festival to rid it of demons and bless

her devotees with happiness and prosperity.

 

Bhattacharya's composition spreads the message of

peace and harmony. It also highlights the need to kill

evil along with other vices that exist on the earth.

 

" The item that I did is 'Navadurga'. It depicts killing nine

different demons by Durga in nine different forms.

Demons are an apparent way of expressions. I pray to

the

Goddess, 'Oh mother! kill these evils-both dormant and

active. Oh mother!

kill the animosity that is within us. Then we can join

hands and live in

peace'. We can say that this is a land of compassion, of

love, of giving and growing together, " she said.

 

Bhattacharya would be performing this special dance in

various cities of the United States for four days during

'Durga Puja' along with her dance troupe.

 

Currently, she is practising with her troupe at Belghata

Rajbari, a heritage palatial home in Kolkata. They are

practicing in front of a Durga idol, in the process of

being made, as they believe it gives them inspiration and

power.

 

" We celebrate the festival with our family. I have been

dancing since the past four years. Ever since we have

started dancing, we celebrate the festival in a bit

different manner. Odissi is not only a dance form but a

way to pray to God also, " said Sushilla Nandi, a member

of Bhattacharya's troupe.

 

The dance composition of 'Durga' is taken from 'Chandi',

a 7000-year-old Hindu mythological manuscript.

 

Bhattacharya says the theme of 'Chandi' is universal and

it is beyond any religion and geographic barrier.

 

In the dance composition, killing of Demon Mahisasura

is depicted as the killing of all kinds of evils.

 

The Navratri festival marks obeisance to the power of

Goddess Durga, a manifestation of the Mother Goddess

in Hindu mythology.

 

The nine-day festival of Navratri stands for the nine

manifestations of Goddess Durga.

 

http://www.newkerala.com/oct.php?action=fullnews & id=6849

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