The legacy of promoting culture in the Sri Radha Krishna-chandra Mandir at ISKCON Bangalore took a new high as Sri Krishna Shringar, a dance festival, being organized for the past 5 years, featured a spectacular dance-drama series, based on the Ramayana. The performance was presented by the Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai. The three-day series which began on November 26, showered life to some of the most brilliant episodes of Ramayana.

Choreographed by the legendary artiste Rukmini Devi Arundale, the splendid performance started with Sabari Moksham, the fourth of Rukmini Devi’s six part Ramayanam series. The episode, where Surpanaka is disfigured by Laxmana when he cuts her nose and ears after she tries to attack Sita, introduced the performance to the audience who were eagerly waiting for a visual treat.

The performance continued to enthrall audience when the scene of Maricha, a demon sent Ravana, taking the form of a golden deer to persuade Rama away from Sita, enabling Ravana to abduct Sita, was enacted.

A beautiful presentation of Jatayu by the artistes of the Kalakshetra Foundation almost had the audience difficult to hold back their tears when Jatayu’s wings were cut off while he tries to rescue Sita. “The show helped me to experience some of the most divine moments of the great epic” said one of the members of the audience.

Click here to view Krishna Shringar - Sabari Moksham Photo Gallery 2010

Click here to view Krishna Shringar - Choodamani Pradhanam Photo Gallery 2010

Click here to view Krishna Shringar - Mahapattabhishekam Photo Gallery 2010

Choodamani Pradanam, composed by S Rajaram, was performed on the second day. Chronicles of Hanuman as he enters and sets fire to the city of Lanka were the highlights of the day. “I thoroughly enjoyed the part where Hanuman sets Lanka on blaze and returns safely” said Prahalad, one of the many young kids who witnessed the performance.

The stage was set very grandly on the final day which showcased the Maha Pattabhishekam of Lord Rama along with several other interesting aspects of the epic. As the dance-drama concluded, Sri Chanchalapati Das felicitated the artistes on behalf of ISKCON. ISKCON Bangalore has been a hub of culture and is constantly trying to propagate philosophy and knowledge of vedic period through art and dance. Krishna Shringar is one such an attempt to impart the essence in Vedic literatures to the common folk who gather.