Sri Vari Padalu Students Perform @ Shakti Peeth In Trincomalee

Hyderabad-based Sri Vari Padalu Bharatanatyam Dance Academy students and their Guru Smt. Nalla Rama Devi toured Sri Lanka for Sri Lanka Bhartiya Nrithyotsav – 2021 on the invitation of Dr. Sarath Chandra garu and Dr. Dharani garu, Organisation of Factory Associations. The Hyderabad dancers performed at Sri Shankari Matha Temple (Shakti Peeth) in Trincomalee on the auspicious Karthika Poornami day.

In the temple complex, the students began the performance with Pushpanjali, salutation to Lord Nataraja, the Guru, the musicians and the audience, which was set in Amrutha Varshini Ragam and Adi Talam. This was followed by Ganesha Pancharatnam, stotra composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century on Lord Ganesha set in Hamsadhwani Raagam and performed by Sahasra.

Another student Akhila performed Muthuswami Dikshitar (version of M.N. Subramanyam) composition Kanchadalayadakshi Kamakshi set in Kamala Manohari Raagam and Adi Talam.  Samanvi Vanama performed to ‘Kondalalo Nelakonna Koneti Rayadu Vadu’ set in Hindolam Raagam and Adi Talam. Spoorthy Preetham showed her strength in Ananda Narthana Ganapati, a composition of Ootukkaadu Venkatasubbaiyyar set in Nattai Raagam and Adi Talam. Performing Annamacharya Krithi ‘Brahma Kadigina Padamu’ set in Mukhaari Raagam and Adi Talam, Kavya left the audience spellbound. Nishika, who also performed to an Annamacharya Krithi, ‘Adivo Alladivo’ tuned in Madyamavathi Raagam and Adi Taalam was like icing on the cake. After the performance the students and their guru had special darshan and were presented mementos and Ammavari Prasadam.  

Speaking to Natyahasini, Guru Rama Devi shares that their Sri Lanka trip was a five-day visit with one performance, the first after the pandemic. Sharing details about the trip, Rama Devi says that on the first day on way to Trincomalee, they visited a replica of Murugan Temple, Manavari and Munneshawaram – Ancient Ramayana Temples. The second day was the performance. “The third day on way to Ramboda, we visited Sigiriya Lion Rock fortress, Dambulla Golden temple, Herbal and Spice Garden, Kandy Sacred Temple of Tooth Relic, Traditional Cultural Dance show in Kandy,” she says.

 The Sri Vari Padalu guru states that in Ramboda, on the fourth day, they visited temples dedicated to Hanuman ji, Sita Amman, Gayatri Amman, Ashoka Vanam and Ravana Mountain Range. “On the fifth day, on way to Colombo, we visited Panchamukha Anjaneya Temple, Kalaniya Vibeeshana Temple and Historical Buddha Temple as it is believed Buddha visited the place,” the dance guru says. The dancers enjoyed the scenic beauty at Balapitiya, a coastal town, in south west Sri Lanka. “Located in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, 80 km south of Colombo, about a two-hour drive from the capital, Balapitiya is the nearest town to the Maduganga River,” Rama Devi says. The dance troupe – Guru Nalla Rama Devi, Vanama Samanvi, Marati Akhila, Nakirikanti Sahasra, Kanaparthi Spoorthi Preetham Deen, Ponna Nishika and Narala Chandra Kavya Reddy retuned to Colombo on the end of the fifth day before heading back home.