In my reflections, I meditate on moments during my dance journey, my volunteering work in dementia care, and more.
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Writing a card for my guru took longer than I had anticipated, now I was running five minutes late. It was a rainy morning, and I rushed to cover my freshly washed hair from the raindrops as I ran to the theater next to my parked car. My stomach was empty from fasting for the puja, but I was relieved to walk in just as the preparations were still underway.
To my surprise, I bumped into students from my own dance school, a lovely surprise so early on a Saturday morning. It felt like a bridge had formed between our two worlds; the intense rehearsals I had been doing on one side, and the community we share at our dance school on the other. I rehearse at this theater every Saturday, and on Monday, I train alongside my fellow students at our own theater. There’s rarely enough time to share how the show rehearsals are progressing, but now they were here, joining me for the puja in the very studio I practice in every week. "We will come on the 27th!" one of them said, referring to our upcoming performance. "So this is where you’ve been practicing," another remarked. Their support warmed my heart in the middle of a cold theatre hallway.
Navaratri is an annual Hindu festival honoring the goddess Durga, a form of goddess Lakshmi. The 10th and final day, known as Vijaya Dashami, celebrates the goddess's victory. It is a tradition to learn something new in your artistic practice during this auspicious time. In observance of this, all Kancheepuram Ellapa Bani Bharatanatyam students were invited to a special puja led by Guru Chandrika, choreographer Soniya Poduval, and Vidwan S.V. Giridhara, who travelled all the way from India for the Divali project.
At that moment, Poernima walked up to me, took a small pinch of kumkum and gently placed it between my eyebrows. I then greeted Guru Chandrika and Vidwan S.V. Giridhara by touching their feet, following the tradition of Charan Sparsh. Notebooks, ghungroos, and Nattuvangam were placed in front of the altar, adorned with flowers, and blessed. Prasāda was offered to the gods. I placed my notebook and a gift for my guru on the carpet in front of the altar, next to a poster of our premiere, asking for divine blessings for the dance production.
As the students gathered on the floor, the puja began. A candle was lit, and mantras were recited. The gurus then returned the blessed notebooks to their students, who, in turn, showed their respect and gratitude by offering gifts. Poernima wished me luck and I touch her feet as she blessed me with her knowledge, wisdom, care and wishes. I walked up to all the gurus, Chandrika, Sitra, Jolanda and again choreographer Soniya Poduval, and Vidwan S.V. Giridhara to receive their blessings for the Divali project. Together with my fellow dancemates, we prayed in front of the altar and received blessings from the deity. We share prasāda and warm up as the rehearsal for Ashtalakshmi is starting soon.
This sacred day marked not only the conclusion of Navaratri but also the beginning of preparations for Divali.
