People Web International

HYDERABAD - The just concluded Brahmotsavam festival was a witness to the revival of an ancient temple tradition of the Devadasis. These week long celebrations were held from 10th Feb, 2011 to the 17th Feb, 2011 at the Rangbagh temple of Sri Ranganathaswamy in the city of Hyderabad. The celebrations at this temple are special as this is the one and only active temple in India of the present day which has re-aligned rituals of worship with traditional dance. This bold initiative was taken in 1996 and has surely marked the beginning of the revival of a tradition that was banned and abolished during the British times. However, worship at this temple has been continuing uninterrupted since 1861 and this temple is estimated to be over 350 years old. The main temple houses the idol of Sri Ranganathaswamy, depicted in a reclining posture under the hood of a five headed snake with the consorts of the Lord, Sridevi, Bhudevi and Neeladevi by his side.

Dance originated in India almost over 2000 years ago and is considered divine in origin. The dancers were well versed in the Art of music too. Initially dance was performed only in the temples as a ritual. The dancers or the Devadasis as they were called were believed to be married or dedicated to the deity or the temple. The Maharajas or the Kings who were the patrons of the temple became powerless and soon the rights of the Devadasis or the temple dancers were banned and in time abolished. This practice did not exist anymore after that.

This near obsolete temple dance was revived by the internationally renowned dancer, singer, performer and choreographer, Swapnasundari who belonged to an entirely different social background than the earlier temple dancers. After painstaking research and direct learning from the last living traditional dancers of the Telegu land, Swapnasundari, in order to ensure that the dancing in the temple does not become extinct once more, she along with the temple Trust, decided to conduct regular free classes in VILASININATYAM wherein coaching in this style and also the repertoire of Vilasininatyam is imparted to a few select students.

And it is during this Annual festival of Brahmotsavam at the Rangbagh temple that since 1996, she initially adapted Vilasininatyam along with the daily temple rituals. Now, she along with her dedicated students accompanied by a traditional live orchestra performs inside the temple along with the various rituals of the day, invoking the deities and seeking the protection of the temple and its surroundings. During this festival, apart from the temple dances, diverse cultural programmes are held every evening on an improvised stage.

The atmosphere during this festival is extremely blissful and reminds us of the great traditions and values that make our culture so rich and unique.

-- by Anita Mathew Perumal, PWI Regional Reporter Tamil Nadu - tamil.nadu@peoplewebinternational.com