The Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, ministry of culture, Government of India presented Parv Bharatiyam- a nine day festival of music and dance at its Bharatiyam Cultural Multiplex in Salt Lake City, Kolkata, recently. They have showcased well known dancers, musicians and troupes brought out classical acts that included several classical dance forms and tribal songs.

The programme was commenced by the scholarship holders of Gaudiya Nritya Bharati who performed Bhavaprita Nanda Ojha’s Saraswati Bandana, a performance solely devoted to the Goddess of Knowledge.

Dr Mahua Mukerjee, a PhD holder in botany who has redeemed the classical dance form of Bengal through her 40 years of consistent hard work, performed the act Buddha Charita by Asavaghosa following the 100 year tribute to the First World War.

The performance was an amalgamation of shloka and dialogu e to present the tale of Prince Siddhartha’s transformation on attaining moksha to become Gautam Buddha. The act bore two aspects, one of which built in the fact that Buddhism is the proliferation of peace in the crumbling social structure of violence.

The other is associated with Buddha’s travel across Greater Bengal (The Bengal before partition) during the early eight to twelfth century. Although there are multiple differences of opinion when it comes to Buddha’s journey in Bengal, the fact is to be considered that the various monasteries which stand across the present Bengal and the neighbouring states (which were once a part of Bengal) substantiate the presence of Buddhism in the region.

While the script of the act was directed by Mukherjee, the music was arranged by Ayan Mukherjee and Subhadeep Chakraborty with Amitava Mukherjee on the vocals. Almost as a sustained extension of the theme, Mamata Shankar and her ballet troupe performed the various stages of love in a human’s life. The translucent exhibition portrayed love in its most genuine and heartless form which is a mother’s love for her child, the love which two friends share where there is no loss or gain, only happiness, and the love which two individuals experience when they are attracted to each other.

The tale brought in the aspect of war which disfigures all facets of affection and care and leaves behind a barren land of hatred and violence. Man, however, might attain the ultimate serenity once he/she redeems him/herself to the infinite divine sanction. The performance, which was visually spectacular, was a standalone proof of the fact that Shankar has carried on the legacy of her parents Uday Shankar and Amala Shankar. Parv Bharatiyam also hosted several folk dances from across the country such as Bodo, Rava, Kashmiri Dance, Rai and Chhau.