The Celestial dance… of a lady

Yesterday I was reading somewhere and it was a great revelation to me that there are many galaxies besides ours. One cannot even count them ...one hundred billions galaxies in the universe ….and our universe may be just one of the numerous parallel worlds that branch off from each other, existing in the other galaxy. The point it was raising was this that when an event takes place in our world; the possibility of similar kind in other cannot be ruled out. There might be a new world where each possibility is a reality. The parallel universe, is a facet of the astronomical theory of the multi-verse, implies that there are many universes perhaps infinitely many wherein every possible quantum outcome is realized. So what! The key idea is we can make our choices real and can survive with no regrets in that possible-existing-universe. One can stand up for oneself and navigate through the pitfalls as best as one can and go all out every day of one’s life.

Any night!! look at the clear sky which is full of stars, from horizon to horizon, one wonders that the stars enjoy the beautiful formations they could create from the essence of their deep feelings and are clustered together out of sheer joy, called constellations, to eliminate the darkness that once encompassed our understanding. The sun emerged amidst as a powerful, bright star of our solar system, which hopes to shine brighter, and help the way for the rest of the galaxy, but the moon became so infatuated with the sun that it just wanted to absorb its light. The different planets soon aligned to form their own bond creating the solar system and admire its ethereal affection. One planet, the earth placed itself from the depths of the galaxy to help the sun and moon to shape them into their full potential that stemmed from its tender intimacy.

And now the play of the earth was enacted as the curtain was supposed to rise within few minutes. She was sitting in the green room, keeping her eyes on the tabla –player and other musicians. This was her début show on the stage as a solo dancer. Since her tender age she had the intense desire to be a performing Kathak dancer, and now the time has come to see her dream true, but obviously she was very excited and nervous too.

A galaxy of dignitaries was sitting on the first row from their elevated office of Cosmos, Planets and Shooting Stars respectively. A beautiful world of her friends and relatives were in the third row. She glanced from the green room that they have occupied their seats and were in their best suits. The reporters were all entering and looking for the best spot. The cameramen and videographer were ready with their instruments. She was moving inside the corridor of the Green-room and waiting for the parents to come. And at last they came and took their seats.  We, sisters, were also excited and looking inside the Green room to have the glimpse of her…in divine attire. Guruji was inside the Green-Room taking note of every niceties of the last moment.

Failing to control her excitement and tension, she surrendered herself to the eternity, in the hands of the infinite forces and was sitting quietly. Let it be whatever. …be. But the weight of the costume that hung around her waist made her more uneasy and edgy. She was adjusting her ghunghuru perfectly on her ankles. And lo! The final bell blew. She was expected to cross the threshold of the green room, so, she quickly touched the feet of her guru and sought her blessings. Since, it is customary for the performer while entering the stage that she should take approval from her guru, a kind of respect to guru. She gradually moved through the stage indoor. And now she was on the stage offering the invocation to the earth, called Bhumi Namaskar, another ritual to be observed as a token of respect to the earth which provides space to the earthly people and allow us to stand on. It is again an act of prostration, a short sequence of gestures and postures performed, as a ritual of obeisance before and after dancing. Now, she was ready to take her stand and gracefully extended her respect to the audience/spectators. She wheeled quickly and burst into the floor with the sound of the ghunghuru. The tabla-players started the bol with uthan and came to sam (completing the cycle) with dha..dhin..dhin..dha  etc.   

It seems that the overwhelming pressure dawned upon her. But she was effortlessly presenting the Nritya with tora, tukra and parhant – the pure style with musical beats, completely synchronizing with her foot work. She was in no mood to stop; finally, she finished with the Chakkardhar tehai of 27 beats each.

ta..thai..tat..thai,..aa..thai..ta..thai,..thei..ta..thei..ta..thei.. thei, ta..aa.. ta..aa.., etc. and so on.

With fast movement of hand gesture and through facial expression, she portrayed the innate grace and beauty. The superb Choreography of her guru enthralled the spectators and reporters who were seated at the spectacle. Her feet were constantly measuring the floor with perfect rhythm. She was in action saturated in full form and displaying the most delicate and elegant mudra-s of the arms and hands. The intricate movements of the head and also of the torso were graceful and flowing. Her performance was the vast repertoire of gestures through which she was expressing her emotions yielding several meanings.

When she used to be in her practice session and we, sisters, used to watch her, we often teased her to move her neck and eyes, which we failed to sproduce after repeated practice of copying her. She spontaneously used to oblige our appeal and gladly used to repeat as many times we wanted. And now her neck was moving from side to side, the eyes glanced in different direction, and the body tilted the visual complexity of the dance. Oh! it was heavenly and blissful.

Was the world awakening with a new dancer?  The ungrudging praise from all quarters was coming but she was absolutely mesmerized by her own performance. Her body and soul were absolutely in tune with the music and rhythm. The spectators were enraptured by her performance and watched her with spellbound…. she started a new bandish of Shiva aradhana –

Chandra tapana kar aarat shivji ….kiti tak thun thun dha..kiti tak thun thun dha and kiti tak thun thun dha .. and thus goes the crazy audience with uninterrupted clapping for minutes. She was absolutely soak up in the role she is about to perform… a brilliant thumping turn executed on the spot… she was using the gliding walk … more swing of the body …emphasizing the speed and turn in floating and in an ethereal manner..  All the stars in the galaxy fizzed with the new pattern, illuminating the night sky, giving warmth to the flute-music!
and to the chorus clouds of the musicians’ beat of tabla-sound.

This is what she wanted for years and now she stormed on the stage once more with final foot work. The complexity of the footwork was lying more in elaborate stamping of the rhythms. As the rhythm of the tabla was increasing she was increasing the foot movement and the sound of the ghunghuru was constantly echoing the same. The fast rotational tempo in doubles or quadruples…her rapid movement was perfectly timed to the musical beats and tempos. The footwork sequences were called tatkars…viewer were presented with pure movement which incorporated the ankle bells producing the stamina, artistry and skill of the artist.

Following the enduring melody the solar-ring leader, with her constellation of musicians, was enlightened in her glory. Finally, she retired to the green room for changing costume of a new bride–beauty hidden so far. It was understood that the show was coming to an end.  She was now presenting thumari, lyrical musical composition, of famous Bade Gulam Ali Khan …Babul mera naihar chuto re jay… narrates a fascinating story in her own way. She mesmerized the audience with her deeper message or feeling through the wordings of the piece. The immense scope for improvisation was there wherein the emphasis was on the beauty in motion, in slow range and with different emotion. The ras and bhav of the underlying story was communicated—the bride was leaving her parental home. The flight of the dancer drew to a close and she bowed to the spectators and set off from the stage. The spiritual experience and sublime passion made the spectators fully engrossed. She herself was in quandary and happy tears rolled down her eyes. The audience was captivated by her elegance that ruled the hour long programme. Her devotion and dedication was untranslatable. She proved herself. The saddest part was it that it ended so quickly. Her friends and close ones were approaching her for giving congratulating messages and she was accepting them with dignified gestures.  Some of the messages were like this ––“you were stunning”…”It was spectacular”…”oh! the masterpiece performance” …”It was sensational” …”It was unbelievable’.. etc. She was now the gravitational point of stars. Her courage to overcome her conviction was now smiling with winning grandeur basking in the glorious feast of the galaxy and its spicy passion ––She made us feel alive and took us to the real life fantasy of the new galaxy of the stars in the sky.

My parents came from behind and introduced her as their first child that was the proud moment they share with the public who were giving the standing ovation to her performance. In response she could recite few lines only as a token of thanks to the standing stars of the audience….

I am a cosmic voyager seeking a new life and wonder.

My celestial body will cross the galaxy for you.

In this whole wide galaxy with the power of your gravity.

The dramatic tale of my life orbit between the two galaxies with the shed of  Rainbow.

A newfound world

A world able to hold every piece of life I had left.