Reviving a tradition
The Hindu, November 4, 1997
Every diminishing tradition encounters a revival. One such art form which has become a favourite topic for connoisseurs of dance. both in India and abroad. is the Devadasi tradition.
For Saskia Kersenboom, Associate Professor in Linguistic Anthropology, University of Amsterdam, this is a passion. She was in Chennai this week and keeping with her topic of research, Saskia presented "The Devadasi Murai - A journey through a south Indian Temple Dance Tradition, (A multimedia experience), at German Hall, T. Nagar.
Saskia presented a condensed version of the original format of a temple recital.
Traditionally, every item of the recital was specific in function and coincided with the several rituals during the uisavams. As the doors of the temple opened to the devotees, the dancer paid her obeisance to the Lord with the pushpanjali and then praised him through the padam. The varnam was presented when the Lord made a halt, during his journey through the temple towns in a "oorukolam." The brisk tillana was performed in the inner mandapam after the Lord was returned to his sanctum sanctorum, and the mangalam, the last item, heralded the conclusion of the utsavam, Saskia followed the same pattern. A screen placed on the 		stage showed montages of an utsavam, shot at the Tiruttani temple, the abode of Lord Subramanyaswamy. As the still of the Lord appeared, Saskia appeared on stage and performed the pushpanjali, the song being sung by the 84-year-old Ranganayaki. Then, she danced the padam, "Manchi dinamu" in Anandabhairavi.
The scenes on the screen focussed on the Lord's procession and Saskia performed the Bhairavi Varnam "Mohamana" with utmost involvement and grace. She concluded the programme with a fast-paced thillana in Shankarabhranam set to Adi tala.
Though her pushpanjali was in the typical Devadasi style, the rest of Saskia's performance conformed to the Balasaraswati style. Bala's style is more a royal tradition than a temple tradition; it is more sophisticated while still preserving the old aesthetics.
Saskia's show is available on CD-Rom and is titled "Remembering Devadasi." This is a joint venture project between Parampara, founded by Saskia, and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.
Saskia's next presentation will be in Holland, as part of 50th annversary of India's Independence celebrations.

SAVITHA PADMANABHAN