Tribute to Hindu goddesses

IT’S GOING to be a double celebration for both Malaysian bharatanatyam dance icon Ajith Bhaskar ( below) and violinistcum-composer Achyuthan Sashidaran Nair. The two are celebrating the silver anniversary of their respective careers.

Ajith founded his dance company, Suvarna Fine Arts, based in Johor Baru 25 years ago, the same time Achyuthan began performing and composing dance music in Malaysia.

To mark their milestone, they have decided to combine their talents in a two-hour Indian classical bharatanatyam dance performance, entitled Aadya – Invoking the Goddess Supreme, at the Temple of Fine Arts’ Shantanand Auditorium in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, this Saturday.

Ajith, who has performed in countries such as the US, Germany and Australia, will lead 12 other dancers in a performance, which will feature some 30 Hindu goddesses such as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi, based on an original musical score composed by Achyuthan.

“We are celebrating female energy in this production,” says the 50year-old dancer, adding that his company’s first production Brahmashri in 1994 was also based on the goddess theme.

Now, 25 years on, he wants to reconnect with the same concept. Through the years, Ajith has gained new insights to the meaning of Hindu goddesses through analysing ancient texts such as the Devi Mahatmayam, and has put this knowledge into the production.

“I look at the goddess now as an iconic symbol of women empowerment,” he adds.

“For example, if a goddess is described as one with many arms, I connect that with how women are able to multitask as a career woman, wife, mother and more.”

He thinks the show will resonate with today’s women who are still fighting against sexual harassment, prejudice, and unfair double standards.

For more, visit the Aadya – Invoking the Goddess Supreme Facebook

page.