Dancing To The Delights Of Natyanjali Festival

From the human spectacle of the Maha Kumbh in the north to the Pushkar Mela in the west, India is known as a land of devotion and spirituality with a long list of religious and spiritual festivals to fill its cultural calendar. Among one of these many glorious traditions of our country, the Natyanjali Dance Festival is a beautiful confluence of grace, spirituality and devotion. Jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism, GOI, the Department of Tourism in Tamil Nadu and the Natyanjali Trust, the festival is dedicated to the dancing deity, Lord Natraj, the fearfully graceful incarnation of Lord Shiva. The festival draws dancers, devotees, and enthusiasts from across the country and beyond to witness what is clearly considered to be one of the most astounding and culturally charged events south of the Vindhyas.

Held for five days at the ancient Natraj Temple in the historic and hallowed town of Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu, the festival begins on the pious occasion of the Maha Shivratri, whichfalls on February 16^th this year. Interestingly, there could have been no better venue for this dance festival. The millennium old Natraj Temple with its majestic golden roof and 108 pillars, each depicting a different dancing posture of Natraj, forms a breathtaking backdrop for the event, which is dedicated to the beauty of all classical Indian dance forms. Through this Natyanjali, literally meaning offering of dance, dancers depict their devotion to their art and hope to please the great cosmic dancer. It is therefore a very suitable and auspicious platform for an arangetram or first stage performance.

A very popular event in Tamil Nadu, it provides a real visual and cultural treat to performing artistes, visitors and tourists alike. Predictably, it is also a great tourist draw to the state. The event gives a splendid opportunity to both established artistes and young performers (including children) to display their talent. Audiences are left spellbound by the graceful mudras and tales that unfold through exponents of Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, and Kathakali from Bengaluru, Chennai, Mysore and countries like Malaysia, Canada and France who come here to showcase their talent. It is a perfect way of disseminating the message of Unity in Diversity, through the universal language of dance and music, which is the underlying theme of this festival.

Each evening as the precincts of the Natraj Temple are lit up for the performances, some held in its prakara or courtyard and others before the mighty statue of Nandi, they add yet another element of splendor to this World Heritage Site.  Dancers, in their gorgeous traditional costumes and make-up, the melodious sounds of the mridangam, tabla and other classical instruments and the general air of spirituality give this atmospheric temple an alluring appeal. The festival is attended by hundreds of dance enthusiasts from Tamil Nadu and its neighboring states. Over the years, the Natyanjali Dance Festival has become an exceptional part of the state’s cultural heritage. Those visiting the fascinating state of Tamil Nadu during this period can easily accommodate this festival in their itinerary. Travel to and from Chidambaram is made easy due to its proximity to Chennai which is very well connected on air and railway travel routes.