Enchanting evening of classic Odissi

Mesmerising recital

India is a patriarchal society which celebrates masculinity as the ultimate authority.

 But as times change, slowly but surely, women are taking up popular art forms and making a mark in them with perfection and interest. This was proved once again at a recently-held Odissi dance recital of the dancer duo Kalyani Phagre and Vaidehi Phagre whose performance left the audience completely enchanted. The two sisters, who initially looked alike, performed as if there was only one performer on the stage, dancing in front of a mirror!

The event which was organised by Seher, was set into five segments depicting various mudras and excellent footwork made the ambience at Deshmukh Theatre, India International Centre, so enchanting that the audience seemed visibly reluctant to leave the performance area when the show ended.

The first of the five elements were set as a welcome to the audience and the the Almighty, while the second depicted the welcoming of Rituraj Vasant and how women dress up and adorn themselves with jewels and the beautiful flowers that the spring season blooms with. The third segment of the performance was a solo act by Kalyani Phagre depicting the tale of Myka, the devotee of Shiva and her struggles to find the ultimate god and surrender herself to his devotion and Vamadeva which is the name of the preserving aspect of Lord Shiva, one of the five aspects of the universe he embodies.

The fourth part of the performance was yet another solo act by Kalyani Phagre showcasing her love for Lord Rama, depicting his life story and struggles through her beautiful hand and foot movements. This classic piece drew inspiration from and highlighted the position Lord Ram occupies in Hindu religion.

The last part of the evening’s performance initially started as a solo performance by Kalyani Phagre who was later joined by Vaidehi Phagre towards the middle of the performance. This showcased the journey of Lord Jagannath on his Rath Yatra with Subhadra and Balram. Jagannath is an avatar of Lord Krishna and the closure was hence dedicated to Lord Krishna. Both sisters eminently depicted surrender to Krishna Tatva by showcasing the Bramha Daru through their dance. Brahma Daru is the idol of Lord Jagannath when he is worshipped in his Narsimha avatar.

The performance was so intense and stunning that the audience could not take their eyes off the performers. “I got so hooked to the performance that I never realised that it ended so soon,” exclaimed Rushda Sharma, a member of the audience.