Dance performances, storytelling and physical endeavours like Kalayaripattu marked the 10th anniversary celebrations of Our Sacred Space, Secunderabad, on Sunday 29 May 2022. The day-long 10th anniversary celebrations started with lighting of the lamp by Mamidi Harikrishna, Director, Department of Language and Culture, Government of Telangana. Speaking on the occasion, Harikrishna appreciated Our Sacred Space for providing an opportunity to people to nurture their inner talent with regard to music, dance, poetry, literature and nature. Guests of honour P. Raghuveer, retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mamatha Achanta, Director, Taruni, Anuradha Reddy, Co-Convenor INTACH, Revathi Thangavelu, President, Keyes Educational Society also spoke on the occasion.
Performances began with an invocation by Pranav and Purnima. Kathak by Lakshmi Vishwanathan who explained technicalities of the dance through her recital. Next came Kalaripayatu, an ancient Indian form of martial art performance by disciples of Jitendhar. This followed gazals by Seema Gupta and western music by Arushi Gupta. Poetry in Urdu was rendered by students learning Urdu at Our Sacred Space. There were musicals utilising didgeridoo, djembe, hand pan and vocals, apart from eurhythmy dance by Vijetha. Members of Hyderabad Storytellers Association narrated three stories that held their listeners, particularly children, spellbound. There was classical Carnatic music by Ravi Kulottama Rao that was greatly appreciated by the audience.
The evening saw Kuchipudi group dance by students of Amy Kumar, Kuchipudi Guru of Our Sacred Space. There was Tai Chi performance by Babu Rao, a fifth- degree black belt who teaches the martial art at Our Sacred Space. Students of Padma Shri Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant presented Bharatanatyam. Guest of honour during the evening were Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant and K.K. Raja.
A theatre production “Nanga Raja” was staged by Bhumika Theatre, which conducts regular theatre and acting courses at Our Sacred Space. The evening ended with Salsa Social by students of Nitish.
The day also witnessed exhibition and sales of handlooms, handicrafts, natural cosmetics, Bengali scroll paintings, Cheriyal masks, Malka’s naturally dyed fabrics, Dastakar’s handlooms and handloom-stitched clothing, Palaguttapalli bags from Chittoor district, Lambadi embroidery from Yellamma Thanda, handloom clothing by Kritikala, ethnic jewellery and baked confectioneries.