Mysuru: Noopura Nrithyalaya held a captivating Dance Festival titled ‘Noopura Nrithyotsava’ at Kalamandira on Hunsur Road in Mysuru on Sept. 22, drawing a crowd of nearly a thousand.

The event featured 70 performers, ranging in age from 8 to 50, who presented 14 enthralling Bharatanatyam performances over three and a half hours.

The evening’s highlights included Mahabharata Shabdam, Kaali Varnam and Ayyappa Varnam, each receiving enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Mahabharata Shabdam portrayed the iconic Draupadi Vastraharan or Panchali Cheer Haran, a pivotal moment from Mahabharata. The performance illustrated how Yudhishthira, eldest of the Pandavas, succumbed to his gambling addiction, manipulated by Shakuni, uncle of Duryodhana. Yudhishthira lost his kingdom, brothers and wife Draupadi. Her dignity was ultimately saved by Lord Krishna, who briefly appeared in the dance, stirring excitement in the crowd, leaving the audience with the powerful question: will Krishna come as the saviour of our sisters and daughters today? Senior students Poornima Dabekar, S. Sahana and Nishitha Vinay skilfully enacted this episode.

Kaali Varnam depicted the fierce battle between Goddess Kali and the demon Rakthabija, whose unique ability to clone himself from each drop of his blood made him nearly indestructible. Kali, using her divine powers, spread her tongue across the battlefield to drink the demon’s blood before it touched the ground, finally devouring him and ensuring his destruction. The climactic moment was enhanced by the commanding voice of Guru Divya Prashant. Senior students M.D. Thaniya and A.S. Durgashree delivered a powerful and riveting performance.

Ayyappa Varnam narrated the story of Lord Ayyappa, the divine son of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu (in the form of Mohini), who was adopted by a king and raised as a skilled warrior. The performance highlighted his mission to defeat the demon Mahishi, sister of Mahishasura, who could only be slain by a child born of Shiva and Vishnu. The dramatic tale of Lord Ayyappa’s birth and triumph was vividly brought to life by the performers, leaving the audience deeply moved.

The event was attended by chief guests, including internationally acclaimed Bharatanatyam artiste Acharya Badari Divya Bhushan, Natyacharya Prof. K. Ramamurthy Rao, Director of Noopura Kalavidaru Samskrutika Trust, Mysuru and Vidu. Dr. Nagalakshmi Nagarajan of Champaka Academy.