Mysore/Mysuru: The 8th (Maargashira) edition of Champaka Rashtreeya Kalaa Utsava was held on Pushya Shuddha Ekadashi (Jan. 21) at Champaka Sabhangana in the Champaka Academy premises, Ramakrishnanagar, showcasing Bharatanatyam performances by accomplished artistes from Bengaluru and Mysuru.

To celebrate the Prana Pratishtapana of Lord Baala Rama at Rama Janmabhoomi, Ayodhya, the evening started with a Gamaka Nritya Roopaka ‘Sundarakaanda – Ashokavanadalli Kshaatra Seethe’ showcasing an episode from Torave Ramayana composed by Kumara Valmiki / Torave Narahari, by Vidushi Dr. Nagalakshmi Nagarajan (as Hanuman and Sita), Founder of Champaka Academy, Mysuru.

Vidushi Chethana Nagaraj (Music composition and vocal), Vidushi Shruti Prasad (Gamaka Vaachana), Vidwan Kiran (Mridanga), K.P.  Pranav (Flute) and Dhananjaya (Dialogues) were part of the musical ensemble.

The nadugannada poetry was well-elaborated to show the greatness of Sita in the eyes of Hanuman and the greatness of Rama in the mind of Sita. The way Sita rejected Ravana in anger and the joy given by Hanuman by offering Rama’s ring were the emotional highlights of the presentation. Vid. Gunashankar Swamy (disciple of Vid. Kannan) enacted as Ravana and Vidu. Swathi Harish (disciple of Dr. Nagalakshmi) took up the role of Trijate.

Vidu. K.S. Nagashree, Artistic Director of Natyasankula School of Bharatanatyam, Bengaluru, along with her disciples, presented a Bharatanatyam feature thereafter. She and her students danced divinely to the appreciation of the audience, to some of the famous kritis like Sriman Narayana, Shringapuradheeshwari and more.

The evening concluded with a performance by Vid. Gunashankar Swamy of Karunya Kalaa Kendra, Manasagangothri, Mysuru, along with his disciples. They danced to devaranamas, kritis and tillana. Lakshminarayana Babu, Vice-President of Mysuru’s prestigious Sabhas — Bidaram Krishnappa’s Rama Mandira and Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha — was the chief guest and spoke of the importance of respect gained by great artistes in the society and hence the responsibility of artistes.