Dehradun: Welham Girls’ School hosted the ‘Arangetram’ ceremony for three of its Class 12 students, Ananya Makker, Nikita Jain and Kartikee Santosh Mahadik, disciples of Shrimati C.K. Rajalakshmi on Saturday, 30th July, 2022. For a Bharatanatyam dancer, an Arangetram, which means ‘ascending the stage’, is a graduation ceremony that marks the transition from being a novice to a professional.
The evening’s programme began with the lighting of the lamp by the Chief Guest, Pandit Rajendra Gangani and the School Vice Principal Mrs. Rajshree Ojha. Ananya, Nikita and Kartikee began their three-hour long marathon performance with the traditional invocatory Ganesh Kauthuvam, set to Ragam Hamsanandini and Adi Talam, followed by Alarippu, the first technical introductory piece in the repertoire. Next was the Jathiswaram followed by Shabdam, which is an Abhinaya piece.
One could not help wonder how such young dancers were able to elucidate those waves of emotions so eloquently. Varnam – the central and most elaborate number in a Bharatnatyam ‘Margam’ that tests the stamina and emotive prowess of the dancers was presented next. Kartikee and Nikita then performed a Javali – “Era Rara”, or the love poem, whereas Ananya performed Mogudochi Padam. This was followed by the devotional Devi Keerthanam in Adi Talam and Ragam Revati. The last piece in the ‘Margam’ was the Tillana – set to Adi Talam and Ragam Brindavani. The entire performance was concluded with salutations to the audience, the Gurus and Lord Vishnu.
Pandit Rajendra Gangani, one of the most renowned exponents of the Jaipur gharana of Kathak graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. He wholeheartedly praised the sterling performances of the young dancers. Ananya, Nikita and Kartikee received their training in Bharatnatyam under the able guidance of their Guru, Shrimati C.K. Rajalakshmi over the last seven years. Mrs. Rajalakshmi, a graduate in Bharatnatyam from the renowned Kalakshetra Academy of Fine Arts, Chennai has been teaching Bharatnatyam at Welham Girls’ School, Dehradun, for the last thirty-one years.
All the items presented by the girls were choreographed by Mrs. Rajalakshmi. The Live Orchestra ensemble for the spectacular event included Shri Vinod Kumar Kannur as the vocalist; Rajan P.V. on the mridangam; Shri Priyesh Kanhangad on the flute and Shrimati Karaikudi Shyamala Bhaskar on the Veena. The evening’s programme ended with the students offering Guru Dakshina and paying their respects to their Gurus.
