Kendra Dance Festival begins with Mayurbhanj Chhau performance

The immortal tale of goddess Durga's victory over demon Mahishasur was brought to life in Mayurbhanj Chhau dance form here at the opening day of the Kendra Dance Festival.

The five-day long festival, organised by Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, will showcase excerpts from different episodes of the Indian mythology like Abhimanyu and Meera along with Odissi on High -- a translation of the traditional Odissi into a contemporary dance form.

"The Kendra believes in reincarnating Indian mythology for its relevance in the present times. It strives to synchronize minds of youth today with rich values that one can derive from what we call our profound heritage.

"There is a whole treasure of morals and lessons one can learn and apply in practicality in their lives, all one needs to do is open one's mind to the richness from the past," the organisers said.

In another Mayurbhanj Chhau performance, the second day will witness Abhimanyu, the son of mythological archer Arjun, in a conquest over the demons within like greed, jealousy, and violence.

Hindu mystic and Bhakti movement proponent Meera's poems and bhajans will be performed in renowned singer Shubha Mudgal's compositions during the third and fourth day of the festival.

"How Meera expressed the turbulence of her life through her poems, visualizes story of almost every woman's life, even today. The boundaries are laid down by us, especially for women, not the supreme being.

"Over the centuries, the boundaries have made way into our genes and living in the said confinement has become our nature. Meera leaped over those confinements," they said.

The event, produced and directed by Shobha Deepak Singh, will come to a close on May 8.