Navarathri with a Gujarati twist
All set to dance: (Standing from front) Sanjay MJ, Sri Charan, Avni; (Sitting) Deepali, Pallavi and Shubhra. (Photo: DC)
Coimbatore: Gujarat's dandiya has captured the fancy of traditional Brahmin maamas and maamis in Kovai.
One of the city's oldest Brahmin organisations, the Ayyappa Puja Sangam, where homams, kutcheris, bhajans and satsangs are usually conducted with orthodox zeal, hosted an exclusive dandiya session for Navarathri on Wednesday.
As a DJ for Dandiya Raas played peppy songs, elderly and middle-aged Brahmin women clanked the dandiya sticks, tapped their feet and swirled around along with young girls in colourful cholis.
The convener of the cultural wing of Ayyappa Puja Sangam, C.G.V. Anand, told Deccan Chronicle that Ayyappa Puja Sang am organised dandiya as part of its Navarathri celebrations for a refreshing change.
"Music and dance is synonymous with Navar athri and the programme has been organised for the people of Ramnagar and schoolchildren. It is aimed at bringing about a refreshing change."
An all-woman fusion music has also been conceived this year. The Dandiya Raas and garba programme is completely free of cost unlike the events hosted by north-based organisations wh ich charge an entry fee, he said.
This year, a small mandapam has been set up for Goddess Chandi and to commemorate the first year, a grand kolu is in place and additionally a dandiya programme has been organised
in association with Rotary Club of Coimbatore West.
The Sangam performs Chandi homam every year during Navarathri. And the year before last, it was Sadha Chandi homam and Sahasara Chandi homam which has the effect of performing Chandi homam a thousand times, he said.
( Source : dc )
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