It’s a proud moment for Shovana Narayan, one of the best Kathak danseuses in the country. She stands before the rehearsal stage of the upcoming Lalit Arpan Festival 2015 that commences on August 26. Smiling gleefully, she admires the efforts of her team and pats a few enthusiastic members on their back, before walking towards us. “I’ve survived all the small and big interferences that presented themselves at every step of my journey towards organising this programme, which is an offering to the divine almighty. The spiritual power and yogic energy of dance and music utilise the intrinsic emotional energy concealed in the sounding reality. Thus, they become the medium that establishes contact between man and the aspired divinity. I am thrilled I came this far with his grace,” says Narayan.
In collaboration with FICCI President Jyotsna Suri, the annual carnival of classical masterpieces presents audiences new compositions and old favourites by some of the best names. This year, the festival commences with a performance by Narayan, Chiragh-e-Dair, based on Mirza Ghalib’s ode to the holy city of Benaras. “I was introduced to this by the eminent Urdu poet, late Ali Sardar Jafri, in 1996. Post the demolition of the Babri Masjid and death threats to Taslima Nasreen on her book relating to the oppression of Hindus in Bangladesh, the mood in the country was uncertain. In a discussion with Jafri, he mentioned that similar uncertain mood had prevailed during Ghalib’s time when colonial rule had been imposed, and that in Banaras, Ghalib saw a city totally untouched by what was happening all around and which compelled him to write this piece. This masnavi (poem) serves as a reminder for the need for harmony in a time when reason seems to take a back seat and fundamentalism seems to have raised its head all over the world,” she says.
In addition to that, takeing the stage will be vocalist Vidushi Saniya Patankar and Pt Omkar Havaldar, Kathak by Shailja Nalwade, and others.
August 26: Kamani Auditorium at Mandi House, and August 27-28 at Triveni Kala Sangam at Mandi House. 6.30 pm onwards.