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| NATYANJALI
DANCE FESTIVAL |
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| Location : Chidambaram, Tamilnadu |
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| Dedicated to
: Lord Shiva |
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| Festival of : Dance |
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| In the month
of : February - March |
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Festivals have
great value in Chidambaram. The Natyanjali festival dedicated to the Cosmic Dancer (Lord
Shiva) is celebrated every year during February-March. Lord Nataraja, according to Hindu
mythology is the cosmic dancer. He is also called "the Lord of Dances".
Natyanjali festival opens on the auspicious occasion of the Maha Shivaratri day and
of course in the right kind of venue - the 'Prakara' of the Chidambaram temple. The
magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, built a thousand years ago, provides a
beautiful backdrop for the event. The setting is truly divine-Chidambaram's gold-roofed
temple, with pillars depicting Lord Nataraja in 108 poses from Bharatanatyam - Tamil
Nadu's classical dance. |
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An
Oppurtunity For All
This is an opportunity for all dancers, from all over India, to perform and to pay their
tribute to Lord Nataraja. Natyanjali festival is jointly organised by The Department of
Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu, The Ministry Of Tourism, Government of India and The
Natyanjali Trust, Chidambaram. The festival lasts for 5 days. |
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| This dance
festival at Chidambaram brings together all the prominent dancers of India with an
enchantment and elation, which shone in their eyes and evocative Abhinaya as they offered
their dance to the great divinity, Lord Nataraja. To many of them it is like a dream come
true, to be able to perform in the vicinity of the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Nataraja
himself, whose 'Padams' and 'Varnams' they often dance upon creating an imaginary figure
of the Lord. |
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| The Natyanjali
Dance Festival is designed to promote a universal message of "Unity in
Diversity" conveyed in the universal language of music and dance. Its purpose also is
to both educate and entertain the audience. |
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