Ramayana Kalpavrksam – Preview
Sri Rama and His story – The Ramayana – is a story that transcends space and time – an epitome of love, service and sacrifice.
Telling and retelling the Ramayana has not tired the storyteller, the listener or the viewer, and continues to inspire seers, artistes and scholars across millennia
Sri Rama’s story has been told, from the time of Rama himself, when Rama’s sons, Lava and Kusha, sang His story in the presence of the Lord himself! From then, till today, Ramayana the living story, continues to bring us closer to understanding our own human nature, aspiring to Godhood, becoming veritably the Kalpavrksam – The life giving tree – that bestows us with continued blessings and insights; a glorious heritage that informs the very collective conscious of not just India but Asia too!
Says renowned dancer and Padmashri awardee, Dr Ananda Shankar Jayant, the festival curator ‘My engagement with Rama and the Ramayana, began with learning the Sloka –‘ Ramaya Ramabhadraya Ramachandraya Vedase’, from my mother, that later continued into dance productions – Thyagaraja Ramayanam, Sri Rama Namam Entha Ruchi Ra, performing at the Ramayana Festival at Angkor Vat, Cambodia, convening the Natya Kala Conference, Chennai with the theme – ‘Ramayana in Performing Arts’, etc.
Adds Ananda ‘I have always believed that the most powerful doorway to Indic knowledge, in through Bharat’s many splendored arts and crafts. As a resident of Hyderabad, I was keen to curate and present, a multi art festival that would appeal to everyone, and hence Ramayana’. She adds, ‘Rama has drawn me often and He seems to have done it again!’
Shankarananda Kalakshetra & Natyarambha are delighted to bring to Hyderabad, an immersive, 3 day multi art festival Ramayana Kalpavrksam, from 31st March 2023 – to 2nd April 2023, at the CCRT Campus, Madhapur, Hyderabad.
Ramayana Kalpavruksam, an immersive festival 3 day festival, with appeal across age groups, with scintillating performances, ranging from the classical to the popular, thought provoking talks, workshops on rare arts and other special features
The stellar line up of events include a galaxy of renowned artistes from across the country
Kala Sandhya
3 day – evening events
- Choodamani Pradhanam by Kalakshetra Chennai
- Vishaka Hari’s Harikatha – Navarasa Ramayanam
- J Sai Deepak’s talk on Raja Dharma – Lesson From the Ramayana
- Taaraka Naama – Musical evening by young stars Abhilash Venkitachalam of Super Singer and Sai Vignesh of Kantara fame
- Anupama Hoskare’s unique puppetry – Ramayana Saptaswara
- Shankarananda Kalakshetra’s premiere- Bhavayami Raghuramam
Ramamrita
2 day – Conference on various facets of the Ramayana by senior and young scholars, from across the country – curated by dance scholar Dr Anupama Kylash.
Listen in to
- Dr Sudha Seshayyan
- Dr Gauri Mahulikar
- Dr Nagaraj Paturi
- Ramaa Bharadvaj
- Ami Ganatra
- Vinay Varanasi
- Surajit Dasgupta
- Hemant Pandey, speaking from the space of scholarship and Bhakti
Special Features
- Manas Paath – Traditional recitation & singing of Sundara Kandam of Tulasi Ramayan by Pandit Dilkash Bharti Sadanand Vishwakarma and Party, Varanasi
- Rama Ayana – Walk with Rama – Nagara Sankeertana lead by TK Saroja & TK Sujatha
- Pancharatna Kritis lead by Sweta Prasad
- Unique Workshops by Hema Kannan, Rahul Teddy and Anupama Hoskere
- Cultural Brand showcase
- Artisans corner and more
The morning events are free, while there is a nominal registration fee for evening events and workshops
Registrations at www.ramayanakalpavrksam.com
See you all soon from 31 March to 2nd April 2023 CCRT Campus, Hyderabad at
Ramayana Kalpavruksam
Dr Ananda Shankar Jayant is a celebrated classical dancer, scholar, speaker and writer. A nationally awarded artiste with the Padmashri and the SNA award, Ananda also served the Ministry of Raioways in a senior capacity until recently. She calls herself a cancer traveller
email: ananda.jayant@gmail.com
*The title of the festival is inspired by Srimad Ramayana Kalpavrikshamu, a 6 volume magnum opus written in the 20th century, by Kavi Samrat Viswanatha Satyanarayana, the first Gnanpeeth awardee in Telugu; that has stirred the Rama Bhakta and artist in me.
Gratitude to the family of Sri Viswanatha Satyanarayana Ji, for permitting us to use this title
