By Harrish Thirukumaran
A dance performance that signified a transformation into a goddess.
This was a profound sentiment captured by her aunt, Sanju Pandya in recognition of the take on the 2000 year-old Bharathanatyam Arangetram in Hindu Tamil culture performed by Harini Rajadeva. She is the daughter of Ahilan and Samitha Rajadeva and granddaughter of Punitharani & Sathianathan Velumailum and Vimala & Late Rajadeva Rasanayagam.
Sanju, who herself has acknowledged her own passion for dance, noted her Arangetram was truly an awe-striking moment showcasing her creativity. “Today she’s on to complete one of the hardest tests. A test for her stamina; her memory; her coordination; her knowledge of our culture, roots, ancestors through history, religion, and understanding the strength of the deities in becoming a goddess in the process. Has she not transformed into a goddess tonight?”
This Bharathanatyam Arangetram was held at the Jo-Ann Magistro Performing Arts Center. Its divine presence was graced on the grounds of the Township of East Brunswick, New Jersey on a Sunday evening.
The Master of Ceremonies or MC was her first cousin, Ms. Radha Pandya, who herself takes inspiration from Harini in completing her own Arangetram in the same year.
Harini recently graduated from Monroe Township High School, where she was part of the prestigious Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Academy Program. She plans to embark on a six-year PharmD program at Rutgers Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy in the fall and continue further education in the medical field.
Harini has also been an aspiring dancer who has been immersed in Bharatnatyam in the Kalakshetra style under Guru Smt. Selvi Chandranathan since the age of 5. These performances ranged from cultural events arranged by the Bharata Kala Nrithyakshetra to the Indian Embassy in Beijing, China where she lived for two years.
Comprised of nine dances, the performance began with the Pushpanjali and concluded with the Managalam: Thiruppugazh (expression of gratitude to Lord Nataraja) as covered by the illuminating program brochure. For Harini, the Thiruppugazh both salutes and expresses her gratitude to the Lord Nataraja, Guru Smt. Selvi Chandranathan, members of the orchestra, family, friends and well-wishers to witness her moment.
Thiruppugazh means ‘Holy Praise’ or ‘Divine Glory’ and serves as a 15th century anthology of Tamil religious songs dedicated to Lord Murugan, the son of Lord Shiva, and written by the poet-saint Arunagirinaadhar. The historic set of over 1300 poems kindles both the music of devotion in one’s heart and stimulates spiritual awakening in the mind.
Harini has been noted as a leader of sorts amongst her family, friends, peers, and others through the evening speeches. A person who strives towards newer and greater heights to better herself and those around her. One being a list of ‘10 things I hate about Harini’ sarcastically given by her younger cousins as a light humourous way to indicate how she embodies leadership; So much so that what is traditionally a solo performance for an Bharathanatyam Arangetram, she was joined by her younger sister, Sanvi, for the Padam as a powerful duet conveying the love a mother has for her child. Known for its simplicity and reverence, it was composed by renowned poet, Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar.
Harini’s Guru or teacher, Srimathi Selvi Chandranathan, is a renowned Bharathanatyam teacher. She is director of the Bharata Kala Nrithyakshetra school, founded to preserve and teach the Kalakshetra style of Bharathanatyam in New Jersey, USA.
The orchestra consisted of Selvi Chandranathan, Vocals from Smt. V Kruppaa Lakshmi, Mridangam by Shri. Vasuthevan Rajalingam, Veena by Smt. Prabha Dayalan, and Flute by Smt. Rasika Segar.
The night was also one of camaraderie and socializing among the attendees both prior to the Arangetram performance and during the intermission period. Harini herself was grateful for the love and support of her parents, grandparents, friends, relatives who travelled from far and wide including Canada, Sri Lanka, and Germany, andher Guru in witnessing her Bharathanatyam Arangetram. The performance was capped off with an appetizing dinner in devotion to this wonderful and unique Arangetram performed by Harini Rajadeva.
(This feature article appears in the July 2022 print edition of Monsoon Journal)
