On 23 November 2024 the Bharathanjali Trust under the guidance of Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher Anitha Guha, commemorated the 99th birth anniversary of Swami Sri Sathya Sai Baba at the Rasika Ranjani Sabha Foundation's Sundareswarar Hall. The event began with a prayer and pooja, followed by a warm welcome from anchor Revathi Sankaran. The evening was a like a Shodoupachara offering, a tribute to Swamiji through geetham, vadyam, and nrityam.

The evening featured a variety of performances, starting with a segment from Agre Pashyami, the portrayal of Guruvayurappan. This was followed by a performance of Sundarakhandam, music by Neyveli Santhanam, first staged in 2010, the segment in which Hanuman’s interactions with Lankini was depicted. The program continued with a second segment of Agre Pashyami, this time showcasing the Narasimha avataram, a production staged in 2022 under the scholarly guidance of Dushyanth Sridhar and music by Rajkumar Bharathi.

Each of these portrayals was remarkable, leaving the audience captivated by the sense of bhakti and awe embedded in every performance. The program continued with a felicitation ceremony recognising the contributions of individuals to the art forms. Bharathanjali's three core values—discipline, devotion, and dedication—were encapsulated, marking 35 years of excellence in dance and performance.

The chief guests for the evening included Bharatanatyam exponent Chitra Visweswaran, writer and scholar Sujatha Vijayaraghavan, and Nalini Padmanabhan, Director, Canara Bank and Chairperson of Infinite Seva. The dignatories spoke about Anitha Guha’s unwavering dedication to Bharathanjali, and the school’s supportive and nurturing atmosphere for its students.

In recognition of outstanding achievers, Bharathanjali conferred titles to several individuals: P C. Ramakrishna, Rajewari Sainath, Ramaa Bharadwaj, V Ramjee (Makkal Kural), Melattur Aravind R, Shijith Nambiar, Parvathy Menon, B Anantha Krishnan, Vyshnavie Sainath, Prakash S. R. S. Srishti, and R. S. Adhvaith. K. R. Ramakrishnan and Rajkumar Bharathi of Paatum Bharathamum recited a poem dedicated to Anitha Guha, further honouring her contributions to the arts.

The evening concluded with a vibrant dance recital, which included segments from Ardhanareeshwarar, Murugan Aadal from the Skanda Puranam, Margam pieces, and a yoga presentation by Bharathanjali students. The final performance was Jay Jay Govinda, from the Praise of Seven Hills.

Overall, the event was enriching and elevating, a befitting tribute to Swami Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

 By

Meghna Venkat

Click to watch a snippet from the celebrations