Classical ode to Devi

Dasara was celebrated with music and dance festival programs curated by Natya Swara at three prominent temples in the Hyderabad. Shivam temple hosted a program by the students of Rama Devi.

They presented a series of items on Shiva and Devi which were appropriate for the occasion. The youngsters gave a competent presentation in the hall with a large portrait of Bhagwan Sri Satya Sai Baba adding lustre.

Kalinga Nartana Thillana by Yugarani and Rohitha was the highlight drawing the appreciation of the audience. Dr Yashoda Thakore's students presented a ballet in Kuchipudi style titled "Sethu Bandhanam".

This was based on Ramayana narrating events in an interesting fashion. Sirisha as Hanuman and Alekhya Prabha as Sita were some of the participating students; During the performance sequence of Rama's anger and the ocean appearing as Sagara to pacify him and ease the path to Lanka was shown.

The youngest students as the Vanaras in the army were enchanting. Another evening set the scene for the last dance performance here which was by the Bharatanatyam students of Smitha Madhav who displayed their skill in a series of items celebrating the divine aspects of the religious festival.

The colourfully ornamented surroundings of the Jagannath temple were bedecked with an outdoor stage facing the decorated effigy of Devi Durga drawing a vast crowd to enjoy the celebrations.

Graceful Mohiniattam was performed by the students of Dr Mythili Anoop. An invocation to Lord Ganesha was followed by a melodious song to Bhairavi. A Swathi Thirunal Thillana concluded the performance.

Bharatanatyam by the students of Nenita Praveen featured a Mallari, Shringara Lahari recorded in the voice of Bombay Jayshree and Rajarajeswari Ashtakam. The dancers in contrasting austere black and red were a brilliant sight in their geometrically statuesque combinations of poses.

The Kuchipudi style was by Amy Kumar and her students who displayed a Devi Shlokam and Mallikarjuna Kowthuvam. Bhajan and Shlokam on Shiva were engrossing. The Thillana in Madhuvanthi was completed by Annamayya composition Sreemannarayana.

Anirudh Sharma on Pakhawaj and Advait Roy for vocal lent talent to some of the items. The Odissi students of Debashree Patnaik were the last group.

Mangalacharan, an offering of salutations opened the presentation, continuing with a Pallavi and finishing with a 'stayee' after an ode to Devi Saraswathi. Grace of the dancers in their characteristic temple setting was picturesque indeed.

At Ramalayam the Navaratri days were all celebrated with a series of dance, music and vocal performances, offerings as it were to the Goddess and her devotees.

Ashrita Vemuganti, who is now well known and popular on the silver screen opened the festivities along with her student Vyshnavie. The songs on Durga were eloquently done.

The students of renowned Guru Dr. Ananda Shankar displayed their skills on three days with solo performances by Archita, Srividya and Poojitha and a splendid group ensemble by 33 young artistes with an in-house orchestra of their fellow students from Shankarananda Kalakshetra.

The choreography of Kaja Neeraja was excellent in concept and depiction. Other days had solo performances in Kuchipudi by Aapeksha and Bharatanatyam by Anju Aravind, both young and talented artistes all set to make their mark in the city's cultural scene.

Nihanthri Reddy and her students were on the penultimate day and presented choreographies of Dr Sobha Naidu and legendary Vempati Chinna Satyam. The Tarangam involving balancing on a brass plate while dancing was well executed.

The final day of Vijaydasami had a brilliant musical instrumental concert of violins by the students of Guru Ashok Gurjale. Next a Kuchipudi production of Guru Prof. Anuradha Jonnalagadda was presented by Aparna, Anusha, Praveen etc.

A Tarangam and Dasavatara Shabdam depicting the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu were the last items concluding the recital.

Finale featured Carnatic vocal concert by the young and talented sisters Suchetra and Sunetra.