Story of Chitrangada, a Dance Drama Performance
For this week’s Thursday Challenge, I have a couple of pictures on ‘DANCE’. Several cultural programs are held during the Durga Puja festivals in Bangalore. Evenings are spent pandal hopping and at Jayamahal Pujo Pandal we happened to see this dance-drama of story of Chitrangada.
These are scenes from dance drama of Arjun and Chitrangada’s story.
Story of Chitrangada a Dance Drama Performance
Story of Chitrangada
Arjun, the 3rd Pandava prince, during their exile period reached Manipur, a state in eastern region of India. There he falls in love with the princess Chitrangada of the Manipur kingdom!
It is very much like a modern day musical with the story set to music and with the characters acting out the parts in dance. Tagore depicted Chitrangada as a brave warrior princess who rescues her kingdom from marauders. During Durga puja celebrations, one of the pandals here in Bangalore had put up this story of Chitrangada as a dance drama performance.
Rabindranath Tagore turned the story of Chitrāngadā into a dance drama in 1892. It is an one act play first published in English in 1913 by the India Society of London. He is instrumental in introducing and popularizing Manipuri Dance, one of the classical forms of dance of India, through Vishwa Bharati in 1918.
Rabindra Nritya is a special dance form created by him. He was of the opinion that every idea, that expresses the soul emotion, could be conveyed through dance dramas. The other two dramas that were presented by him were: Chandalika andShyama.
May 7th 2014 – Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s 154th birth anniversary!
Looks Divinely beautiful coupled with flurry of passion. Gurudev is a genius and his thinking was full of love, romance that find relevance today. How I wish more movies could showcase his work or be inspired:)
The lady dancer isn't, but I am not sure to which state the male dancer belongs.
Thank you friends for the compliments on the pics. 🙂
Pics are really good. Are the dancers from Manipur?
Hi Shrinidhi, it is just a dance movement… he was gracefully bending backwards.
Thank you so much for the comments friends.
trying to understand the second photo- what's happening? he's falling down?
These are wonderful clicks, Indrani! I saw a Thai theatre group's performance of Chitrangada two years ago in my area…riveting.
Beautiful! Interesting…
Great…nice to know that It has been staged there …
interesting !
I have heard this story but remember only vaguely. I didn't like Arjun much in Mahabharata. My favorite was Krishna.
Now Arjun reached Manipur in that time and age, must have been a great wanderer! I somehow never heard of this story before.
its been so long since I have seen a dance performance. My sis use to perform Kathak when she was in college
Bikram
I must visit pandals this year 🙂 This is so beautiful… I completely love dance performances!
Wonderful shots. You captured the movement and colorful costumes so well.
Nice knowing about this dance drama! Beautiful photos on the play
Very nice, they look so graceful! I sure would like to see such a play some time.
Nice one Indrani.
Beautiful 🙂 I love to watch traditional dance.
I think I would enjoy seeing a performance of this dance drama.
Interesting..The first shot is beautiful..!
I really like Indian dancing. (And Tagore) A Kathak group is performing this summer here, but I'll miss it. I did see the same one, though, a couple of years ago.
Nice fleshing out this dance because of a birthday.
Hari OM
I adore the traditional dance and that last shot is fab!
All hail Tagore… words ever new. YAM xx
Great post & photos.
I didn't know about this story. I guess, it's time for me to study some more. These are vibrant pics. 🙂
Nice capture and the story too.
They seem very graceful… Beautifully captured!
Beautiful colors! And I guess a beautiful dance, which is quite old in fact. Nice to take care of traditions.
It all looks wonderful Indrani, an interesting tale and I enjoyed the colorful clothing.
Colorful and beautiful! I have long been an admirer of Tagore! Great captures for the day as always, Indrani!! Hope your week is going well!