The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Leading dance performers on stage at Kumbakonam

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Leading dance performers on stage at Kumbakonam

Special Correspondent

For natyanjali at Adhikumbeswaraswamy Temple

— Photo: M. Srinath

With devotion: Priya Narayanan, performing in Natyanjali 2008 Festival at Adhikumbeswaraswamy Temple in Kumbakonam on Thursday.

Kumbakonam: Our arts like Bharathanatyam and music are very much necessary in this era of economic development where youth are tied up with computers in their workplace, said N.V. Balasubramaniam, retired Judge of Madras High Court here on Thursday.

Inaugurating the Natyanjali 2008 at Adhikumbeswaraswamy Temple, Mr. Balasubramanian said that “dance is a gift of God and it comes to those who have ‘Poorva punyam.’ It is an offering to God and artists have to do it with dedication. He appreciated G. Rangaswamy Moopanar, president of Kumbakonam Natyanjali Trust for conducting the programme for the past seven years at the temple.

Dr. Padma Subramaniam, Bharatanrithyam exponent, lit the “kuthuvilakku” to mark the beginning of the festival. She said that there are cultural troupes, which perform Ramayanam in countries like Thailand, and Indonesia. The days are not far off when these troupes come to India and perform. She thanked Moopanar family for conducting Natyanjali during Sivaratri and offered to come every year and perform at the natyanjali. She performed a dance drama on Siruthondar Puranam. Kathak by Leela Manakar and Poornima Rai, Bharathanatyam by Priya Narayanan, Jaya TV fame Lavanya Sankar, students of Kaladiksha led by Meenakshi Chitharanjan, Aishwarya Jayaraman, Archana Naryanamurthy, Tanjore Art Music and Dance Research Centre, Ushanthini Sri Padmanathan from Australia formed part of the first day programme.

Chinnamanur sisters A. Chitra and A. Sujatha performed Natahalaya Natyam. According to G. Rangaswamy Moopanar, president of the Natyanjali Trust, dance programmes will continue on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Odissi by Sonal Mansingh, Mohiniyattam by Neena Prasad, Kerala, Satriya dance by Ramakrishna Taludkar from Assam, Kuchipudi by Srividya Angara, Hyderabad are the highlights of the programme other than Bharathanatyam.

S. Balasubramanian, Chairman, City Union Bank Ltd, Sridharan, Circle Head, Indian Bank, M. Subramaniam, Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment, K.N. Rajagopalan, secretary of Natyanjali Trust, S.P. Anthonisamy, industrialist, Suresh Moopanar, Congress leader, participated in the programme.

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