Devotional epic rendered in dance

Classical moves

Acclaimed Odissi dance festival ‘Ashtapadi’ made its annual comeback to Delhi with not just Odissi but epic novel Gitagovind’s Ashtapadis (eight line poems) presented in all major Indian classical dance forms this time. The best artistes of all these dances reinvented saint-poet Jaidev’s Gitagovind and left the audience at Kamani auditorium spell bound.

The first edition of Ashtapadi was held by the Sri Gitagovind Pratisthana, Puducherry, as a part of Delhi Celebrates during Commonwealth Games 2010. The second edition was organised one year later, attracting enthusiastic audience response and critical acclaim. Since then, it has become an important event in Delhi’s annual cultural calendar.

Curator Dr Subas Pani said, “The Ashtapadi Festival is all about rediscovering the eternal appeal of Jaidev’s lyrical epic – the well-known Sanskrit classic Gitagovind composed in the 12th century as a musical offering to Jagannath, the presiding deity of Puri in Odissa. This festival presents Gitagovind through fresh interpretations in music and dance. It offers the audience a complete experience of Gitagovind through sangeet, geet, vadya and nritya.”

“In the past two editions, we presented only Odissi, but this time we got artistes from all the major Indian classical dance forms – Bharat­a­n­a­t­y­am, Kuchipudi, Sattariya, Manipuri, Kathak and Mohiniyattam – to render the Gitagovind.

We covered all 24 songs of the work and some of the shloka sequences as well. We encouraged the dancers to expand their repertoire, explore choreography of new Ashtapadis as well as reinterpret some.”

On the first day, renowned Bharatanatyam dancer Sathyanarayana Raju presented poems like Jaya Jagadeesha Hare/Dashavatara, Vadasi yadi kinchidapi/Priye charusheele and Kishalayashayanatale/Kshanamadhuna. His elegant performance was followed by Odissi dancer Madhavi Mudgal and her group rendering Lalitalavangalata/Sarasavasante and Chandanacharchita/Haririha mugdhabadhunikare.

On the second day, Kuchipudi dancer Srimayi Vempati rendered poems Pasyati disi disi/ Natha Hare Seedati Radha Vasa Grihe, Samuditamadane/Ramate Yamunapulinavane and Bahati malayasameere/Tava virahe Vanamali. Mohiniyattam exponent Deepti Omchery Bhalla presented Rajanijanita/Hari Hari Yahi Madhaba Yahi Keshav and Virachitachatubachana/Mugdhe Madhumathanam.

All these were addressed to either Krishna, Radha or the sakhis. It featured classic choreography created by all time greats like the late Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra, Vempatti Chinna Satyam as well as some recent and new items by some talented dancer-choreographers.

Dr Pani consulted the artistes for each performance, resulting in adoption of the authentic text and appropriate interpretation of the 12th century Sanskrit classic.
He remarked, “Due to our commitment to authentic arts, this festival has attracted numerous foreigners as well. We hope to continue promoting the timeless classic Gitagovind and resultantly the rich cultural heritage of Odisha as well.”