Dance of divine love

Lord Krishna decorated himself with fragrant flowers and played his flute. On hearing the notes from his flute the Gopis were enchanted. They left whatever they were doing and rushed to be with their loved Krishna.

That's just one aspect of Kathak exponent Uma Sharma's Raas Leela that is underway at theLakshmi Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir) here.

The lord, on his part advised them not to leave their homes and husbands to come to him at the dead of night in forest unescorted.

On hearing this gopis were disappointed and annoyed. Giving in to their pleasure, Krishna surrounded by many gopis started dancing.

This show of affection and lavish attention by the supreme lord himself soon made them very proud. Krishna, along with Radha, disappeared.

When the gopis realized that Krishna was not amongst them, they went mad with the agony of the separation. They started looking for him everywhere to diminish their sorrow, they started enacting scenes from Krishna's life.

One of them acted as Makhan Chori Leela. Other acted as Putana the devil, who had come with poisoned milk to feed baby Krishna and kill him.

Another relived the lifting of Govardhan Parvat as Krishna had done to save Vrindavan.

Realising that the gopies had learnt a lesson Krishna appeared.

He explained that he should not repay their love for him even throughout the lifetimes of the demi gods, it is impossible to repay you for your love so be content by your own pious activities the Lord told the gopis.

To satisfy and pacify the gopis Krishna started the Maharaas dance which is a spiritual experience. With his supreme powers, he multiplied his form so that each gopi felt that Krishna was at her side and dancing with her alone.

Sharma has done considerable research on the traditional story of Maharaas.

This pinpoints her creative originality as a choreographer and also shows her concern for placing Kathak in its true perspective as a dance for the gods, to the gods, and in homes of the gods in temples.

Through a festival, which is on till October 7, the dancer is enthralling the capital's dance connoisseurs.

--IANS

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