Natyanjali
is an annual dance festival commemorating Hindu deity Shiva. It originated
around 1981, and started off as a relatively obscure event. It is currently
organized by collaborative efforts of the Department of Tourism of Tamil Nadu
and the Natyanjali Trust.[1] Although celebrations are most prominent at its
original venue, the 12th century Chidambaram temple, they also occur in a wider
spectrum across Tamil Nadu and Murugan temples. Mumbai also organize their own
versions of the festival under the same banner.
The current version lasts around 13 days, and various classical dance forms of all
styles offer their art up to the god Nataraja. Senior gurus have been
performing on Sivaratri night year after year. In 1968, V. P. Dhananjayan
created Natyanjali, a bharatanatyam composition. It is from the Raga Mallika,
Tala Mallika, and praises Ganesha, Saraswati, Vishnu, Shiva, and the gurus in
Sanskrit Slokas, each with different talas and ragas. Natyanjali is connected
to the dance festival held at Chidambaram Sri Sabanayagar Temple (Sri Natarajar
temple). For some 40 years Carnatic music concerts were conducted daily in the
1000 pillar mantap.
Tapping
their feet on every beat and swaying away with the applause of audience are the
talented dancers delved in this famous festival of Tamilnadu, Natyanjali Dance
Festival. Viewing it as a shining opportunity, artists from across the globe
set their foot into this tourism destination and are the driving force in
achieving the motive of this festival, which is 'unity in diversity'. When
divided, Natyanjali means dancers dedicating their art of dance, where 'Natya'
means dance and 'Anjali' means offering. The artists pay their respect to Lord
Nataraja (Lord Shiva), the epitome of dance. Chidambaram which is one of the
most popular tourist destination in South India, is the host of this festival
which is rejoiced in the month of February-March and begins on the day of
Mahashivratri.
