This year as Natyarangam, the dance wing of Narada Gana Sabha, Alwarpet celebrates its silver jubilee ( delayed by two years due to Covid) with the annual 10 day thematic dance festival Uthsava Bharatham.
This dance fest, from Aug.14 – 23, is themed and unique – this edition brings the mystical, the magical, and the grandeur of the temple uthsavams to the audiences at the auditorium.
There will be six group and four solo presentations of the festivals representing some of the temples of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
This is the culmination of efforts of over 40 dancers, scores of musicians, other artistes and
resource persons is the ten-day Uthsava Bharatham.
Day 1 – a talk by V. Sriram on Kapali and Karpagambal and the Aruvathumoovar and Panguni Uthsavam. Followed by Jayanthi Subramaniam and group’s dance feature on this utsavam.
Day 2, – Srirangam Temple – to witness the Raappathu Pagalpaththu Uthsavam of Ranganatha Swamy that is still
followed today as it was centuries ago presented in dance by Manjari Rajandrakumar.
Day 3 – Sangita Isvaran and group take you to Thiruvarur – the colourful and joyous proceedings of the Brahmotsavam in dance, preceded by a talk on the temple by Madhusudhanan Kalaichelvan.
Day 4, focus is on Thirupathi – to celebrate the Brahmotsavam of Lord Venkateswara, which will be presented by K.P.Rakesh and group.
On Day 5 – a talk by Dr.Chithra Madhavan on Varadaraja Perumal of Kachipuram, followed by the presentation of the Brahmotsavam for the Lord – in dance by Harinie Jeevitha.
Day 6 – Karuna Sagari and her group of dancers will showcase the festivities of the Skanda Shashti festival and celebrations of Lord Muruga at Thiruchendur.
Day 7, artistes Roja Kannan , Priya Murle and Srikanth with their group of dancers will take rasikas to the famed Madurai Meenakshi Temple to witness the beauty of the Meenakshi Kalyanam and Azhagar Thirunal.
Day 8 – Choreographer Sheejith Krishna and group present the Uthsavams of Lord Padmanabhaswamy at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Day 9 – The speaker : Dr.Sudha Seshayyan will take you to Thiruvanamali to see the beautiful Karthigai Deepam festival. Then, dancer Medha Hari unfolds the utsavam.
Day 10 – focus on the pomp and pageantry of the Mysuru Dussehra festival, presented by dancer Parshwanath Upadhye.
