National 2 (Spotlight Weekly)

KATHAK DANCE
Reminder Of Commonalities

Nepal and India have hardly made any efforts to analyze the cultural and religious similarities that bind the two neighbors together

By A CORRESSPONDENT

When Geetanjali Lal, one of the most accomplished Kathak dancers of India, performed the celebrated dance amid the prayers to Lord Shiva by vocalist Ramesh Parihar and play-ups of Tabala by Subhas Nirwan, the audience at the hall of Royal Nepal Academy were held in a rapt attention.

Being in the land of Lord Pashupatinath, it seems, makes every Indian artiste who visits Nepal and display their talent, devote first of their performances to the lord Shiva. This was what Geetanjali Lal also did before beginning various dances based on Hindu mythology and stories including Dropadi Chirharan of Mahabharata and Ganeshjis’s dance.

Geetanjali : Perfection of steps

Jam-packed audiences at the Royal Nepal Academy were very pleased to see the songs, dances and other performances based on familiar stories they had already heard before. Despite many cultural and religious similarities, Nepal’s and India’s leaders have hardly paid any attention in forging the relations between the two countries based on these shared cultural identity.

Organized by the B.P. Koirala India-Nepal Foundation and Embassy of India, Kathak performance displayed by Geetanjali Lal not only gave rhythmic delights to Nepalese audience but also put before them the integration of Nepalese and Indian culture. The songs and the musical instruments used were familiar.

Along with her son Abhimanyu Lal and daughter-in-law Vidha Lal, Geetanjali Lal showed her brilliant performance keeping her rhythm and body balance in tune with Tabala and harmonium.

Although they are young, her son and daughter-in-law have also acquired perfection in Kathak, which is derived from Katha (meaning a story). This form of dance is known as a highly sophisticated classical dance of northern India.

In her dance and expression, Geetanjali Lal depicted sound combination with her ankle-bells and tabala played by his colleague Subhas Nirwan and harmonium and vocal sound produced by Ramesh Parihar.

Geetanjali’s son Abhimanyu Lal, a professional dancer and choreographer, has performed and conducted Kathak workshop in various European countries. He showed cohesion in his dance steps and expression. In his various kinds of performance, Abhimanyu Lal reminded Nepalese audiences about various religious legends and long history of people to people contact between the two countries.

In state of political relations, there might be different perceptions but as far as Nepal and India’s culture and religious affinity is concerned, they are indestructible. Nepalese culture is based upon Hindu myths shared by our brethren in Southern neighborhood.

Vidha lal and Abhimanyu : In tandem

“One of the aims of the programs is to increase people to people contact between the two countries,” said Shyam Sharan Indian Ambassador to Nepal addressing the program. Along with performing in the capital, the dance troupes also performed their dance in eastern cities of Bhadrapur and Raj Biraj.

Apart from some differences in official level, one cannot undermine cultural and religious similarities enjoyed by Nepal and India. The evolution of Nepalese culture is the diffusion of centuries old people to people contact between the citizens of two countries.

This unique type of relations existed since long and people tend to take it for granted. From Taleju temple to Pashupatinath temple and many other Hindu shrines in the valley, all are sacred for Indian people.

Whatever the political level relations, there is no way for two countries to survive in this geographical and natural reality in isolation. Regular exchanges of cultural religious programs help to develop understanding about deep-rooted relations between the two countries.