Padmapatra and Veena Vadini - Odissi disciples of Sharon Lowen

Thirteen of Guru Sharon Lowen’s Odissi disciples, with a core team of four, celebrated her 75th birthday with performances of her choreographies, a photo exhibition, panel discussion and film on “A Life in Dance”. The overflowing Habitat Centre, New Delhi was overflowing with love, affection and audience. This is one of the 6 solo and group presentations on a memorable evening.
Padmapatra and Veena Vadini are invocations to Vishnu and Saraswati/Bharat Ma. performed by Devyani Sharma - Chigusa Kaamaamasu - Pooja Kumar - Aashi Kumar - Soumi Samant - Sneha Samant - Gouri Bhandarkar - Rajshree Rathore - Anaghaa Neralkar. Choreography by Guru Sharon Lowen. Obeisance to Lord Jagganath, supreme Ruler of the Universe is offered to his reclining form as Padmanabhan with Brahma on a lotus from his navel. In slokas "Shantaakaram" and "Meghashyamam", he is described as: the Embodiment of Peace, Lord of the demigods, sky-like and cloud colored, husband of the lotus-eyed Lakshmi, Reliever of worldly fear, Lord of all the three Worlds. Veena Vadini, a theme song for the youth of the late 40's, is a 1945 poem by Suryakant Tripathi Nirala. It evokes blessings from Saraswati, Goddess of Wisdom, and expands into an image of Bharat Ma, Mother India asking her for blessings. Oh, player of the Veena, destroy the shackles that bind us. Shower us with light as you remove darkness and illuminate our way.
Accompanying musicians:
Pt. Prafulla Kumar Mangaraj – mardala
Sukant Nayak and son Ashish – vocals
Dheeraj Pandey - flute
Anees Rahman – sitar
Rohit Saini – tanpura
Smita Babar – manjiras
Vishwanth Mangaraj – Manjiras