3-Day Ramayana Kalpavrksham Feast For Hyderabadis

Bharatanatyam dancer and founder of Shankarananda Kalakshetra, Padma Shri Ananda Shankar Jayant, is organising a three-day ‘Ramayana Kalpavrksham’ Festival at the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, Opp. CII, Near Google Office, Madhapur, from 31 March – 2 April, 2023. The Festival has been curated by Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant, while the talks have been curated by Dr. Anupama Kylash.

The three-day festival of arts and scholarship – Ramayana Kalpavrksam (Ramayana – The Eternal life giving tree), curated by Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant, will bring together on one platform – music and dance performances, Harikatha, Manas Paath, puppetry, and talks by young and senior scholars of the Ramayana, curated by dance scholar Dr. Anupama Kylash and workshops to celebrate revered Itihasa Ramayana, the essence of what is Bharat.

According to Dr. Ananda Shankar, the three-day Ramayana Kalpavrksam festival has been curated as a veritable mosaic of scintillating performances, wide variety of performing arts, ranging from the classical to the popular, thought-provoking talks, and workshops on rare arts; a canvas that has something for everyone and every age group.

Kuchipudi dancer Dr. Anupama Kylash, curator of Ramamrta, says that the Ramayana is not only an Itihasa. “It is the ‘sutra’, or thread, that binds the cultural, spiritual and philosophical ethos of the entire Indian sub-continent, in one common essence, that is ‘Dharma’, a word, unique to us, as an ancient civilization. “It gives me great pleasure to curate ‘Rāmāmrta’, the Conference segment of ‘Ramayana Kalpavrksham ‘, which will focus on exploring every facet of the Ramayana, the original, retellings, analysis and interpretations by seasoned academics and experts, young, brilliant scholars and ardent devotees of Sri Rama,” she says. 

Under the Rama Rasa, there are many performances by distinguished artists. On Day 1, Mangala Vadyam by TM Ramchadradu and Party will begin at 5pm, which will be followed by a dance drama Choodamani Pradhanam by Kalakshetra Chennai at 6.30pm. The Choodamani Pradhanam, is a 40-member group with live orchestra, bringing alive the Kishkinda Kandam of Valmiki Ramayanam. On Day 2, it is Ramayana Saptaswara, a puppetry show by Anupama Hoskere and Dhaatu Puppet Theatre at 6pm, followed by Bhavayami Raghuramam by Shankarananda Kalakshetra Ensemble at 7pm and Harikatha by Vishaka Hari on Navarasa Ramayanam at 7.45pm. On Day 3, Rajadharma, Lessons from the Ramayana, a talk by J Sai Deepak, Supreme Court advocate, at 6pm followed by a musical evening, Taraka Naama, singers Abhilash, Venkitachalam, Sai Vignesh and the Groove Culture.

Under the Ramamrita section, there will be talks on Ramayana’s varied facets by Illustrated speakers. Ami Ganatra will speak on Sankalp, Paap and Prayaschitta: perspectives from Valmiki Ramayana; Hemant Pandey will talk on Hanumat Darshan from Valmiki Ramayana; Sudha Seshaiyyan will share her views on Kambaramayanam – A treasure for all times; Nagaraj Paturi will deliver a lecture on Ramayana – A Living People’s tradition, while Vinay Varanasi will share his views on Sita-MahaTripurasundari: Sita from a Shakta perspective; Gauri Mahulikar will speak on Ramayana – Women composers and perspectives; Surajit Dasgupta on Ramayana: Krittibas onwards; Ramaa Bharadwaj on Ramayana – Beyond the Desi Land.

The three-day festival also includes workshops and special features. In the special features of Ramayana Kalpavrksam, Manas Paat – Traditional recitation & singing of Sundara Kandam – Ram Charat Manas by Pandit Dilkash Bharti Sadanand Vishwakarma and Party; Rama Ayana, walk with Rama Nama – Nagara Sankeertana led by TK Saroja and TK Sujatha, Thyagaraja Aradhana, Pancharatna group singing lead by IV Sweta Prasad and group. In workshops, one can learn, Pulling Strings – Learn to manipulate puppets from Anupama Hoskere, Making Garlands for the Gods by Hema Kanan.

For more details and registration visit www.ramayanakalpavrksam.com