Tampa Festival 2018

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SPOTLIGHT ON
BHARATANATYAM

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CONTRIBUTED BY JYOTI VENKATACHALAM

“Everybody can dance. It’s the drive and passion that makes you a
dancer”

The Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay has strongly believed in this adage by organizing The India Festival for the
last 31 years with immense einthusiasm and unmitigated commitment . This cultural extravaganza provides a
platform to present Classical and Folk Dances of India .

SPOTLIGHT ON BHARATANATYAM

Bharatanatyam is the most widely practiced of classical dance forms in India. It comprises of three aspects:
1. Nritta (pure dance, i.e. rhythmic elements)
2. Natya (dramatic art, expression through gestures, poses, mime)
3. Nritya (combination of Nritta and Natya)
Though primarily performed by women dancers, the dance was revitalized in the first half of the
19th century by four talented brothers known today as the Tanjore Quartet. They organized the basic
Bharatanatyam movements of pure dance into a progressive series called Adavus.

The Mohiniattam costume is always white or off-white with gold or red border. The face is done up
with little exaggerated eye makeup to help the dancer express her emotions. The eyes reflect the mental state
of the situation or character the dancer is portraying. This dance uses most of the mudras (hand gestures) of
Bharatanatyam and the lasya style of Kathakali.

At the end of all this, the transformation from the real world to the magical world of Mohini the enchantress
is tremendous. The merrily dancing eyes and the fluttering of the eyebrows create a devastatingly mischievous
atmosphere. The music and the bewitching personality of a Mohiniattam dancer all takes us to the highest
aesthetic order “the atmosphere of enchantment.”

SPOTLIGHT ON ODISSI

Odissi was born in the land of Orissa. Deeply rooted in Hindu devotion, it is possibly the oldest form of
classical dance, dating back to the second century BCE. The dance form closely resembles the sculptures of
Indian temples. Odissi gives the impression of a soft lyrical style, highly sensuous in form, but it is rigorous and
challenging to execute with control and precision.

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31st India Festival SPOTLIGHT ON KATHAK

The technique of Odissi includes repeated The word Kathak is derived from the name
use of the tribhangi, or three deflected postures given to its practitioners “Kathakars.” Katha
in which the body is bent in three places (the means story, and its practitioners are those
head, the torso and the hips), approximating the who told the stories from the Ramayana,
shape of a helix. This posture and characteristics Mahabharata and other mythological epics
shifting of the torso from side to side make or Puranas. The style is known for its sparkling
Odissi a difficult style to execute; when footwork, whirling movements and subtle
mastered it is the epitome of fluid grace and has abhinaya or mimetic dance.
a distinctively lyrical quality that is appealing.
There are three main Gharanas or schools of
The music of this dance form is a unique Kathak. These schools are named according
blend of North and South Indian classical music to the geographical area in which they are
but with distinct qualities. Most of the abhinaya developed: Jaipur, Lucknow and Banaras. Each
compositions are based on the Radha-Krishna has a slight difference in interpretation and
theme. A typical Odissi dance recital usually repertoire.
begins with the Bhumipranam, an obeisance
to the chosen deity, and ends with a Tarajan Small ankle bells are an essential part of
or Moksha, a pure dance number that is quite adornment of a kathak dancer. They not only
similar to the Tillana in Bharatanatyam. It literally accentuate the movement of the dancing foot,
translates to salvation, liberation or deliverance. but also help in dancing many complex patterns
and designs. Kathak makes a great use of a
number of Hindustani musical compositions.

Kathak’s unique grace, intricate footwork,
dizzying pirouettes, the brilliant control of the
feet, combined with scintillating rhythmic
syllables and instrumental music make it a
thing of transcendental experience, aesthetic
perfection and great inner beauty. It is one of
the classical Indian dance-forms destined to live
forever with its various characteristic highlights
getting richer and still richer with the passage
of time and further deep studies done in its
creative and aesthetic aspects.

SPOTLIGHT ON MANIPURI

Manipur, situated in the northeastern part
of India, presents a mosaic of cultural patterns
and traditions. This area was inhabited by
several different tribes, which can be broadly
categorized into the valley people who were
known as Meities. They trace their origins into
Vedic times where religious rituals were an
important part of society, and these eventually
manifested into dances that demonstrated a
devotion to God.

The Manipuri dance acquired its present
form and repertoire in the 18th century. Legend
has it that a king known as Bhagyachandra had
a dream in which he visualized Lord Krishna
and the gopis performing the dance. The
movements and costumes visualized by the
king in his dream forms what is today known as
Manipuri.

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The full glory of Manipuri dance is 31st India Festival
displayed in its fabulous raasa dance.
There are several raasa dances usually
based on the mythological stories
depicting the scenes from the life of
Lord Krishna. Another vibrant feature of
the Manipuri dance is the Pung Cholam
or drum dance, in which dancers play
on the drum, known as Pung, while
dancing with thrilling leaps and turns to
a fast rhythm.

The dance’s main mood is devotion
and a yearning for divine. It symbolizes
that all human beings are eternally
seeking reunion with God. Manipuri is
a dance of tremendous elegance and
beauty with exquisite fluid movements.

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HEALTHY

LIFESTYLE

CONTRIBUTED BY BHAVI PATEL

What is health ? is it the According to ayurveda health fire), properly formed dhatus
mere absence of any disease is defined as (tissues), proper elimination of
or impairment or is it a state malas (waste), well functioning
that allows the individual “sama dosha sama agnischa bodily processes, and whose
to adequately cope with sama dhatu mala kriyaaha| mind, soul and senses are full of
all demands of daily life Prasanna atma indriya manaha bliss, is called a healthy person
(adaptation) or is it a state of swastha iti abhidheeyate” – .” This definition takes into
balance, an equilibrium that Sushruta Samhita account spiritual well being of
one has established within an individual as well.
himself and between himself Meaning: One who is
and his social and physical established in Self, who has Less than 3% of Americans
environment (surroundings). All balanced doshas (energies lead a healthy lifestyle
the above definitions seem apt that make up every individual, according to Mayo clinic
to personify healthy individual. which perform different proceedings. Healthy eating,
physiological functions in the exercise, and quality of sleep
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are three major components of a healthy not must-have foods. Limit juices and other
lifestyle. Health can definitely be achieved by sugary drinks. Your body is made up of ~60%
working all across these three components water and staying hydrated is very important
simultaneously with perseverance and to overall health. Fatigue, muscle stiffness and
patience. pseudo hunger can all stem from not drinking
enough. For assuring proper hydration, try
1. Healthy eating: carrying a bottle with you that you can refill
Half your meal should be a variety of throughout the day, challenge a friend to
vegetables and fruits. Corn, peas, and potatoes drink the recommended amount with you,
are counted as starch. or download a tracking app to your phone or
Whole grains- one-fourth of the plate. smartwatch for daily reminders.
Choose whole grains over refined grains
whenever you can. Whole grains have the key A recent study published by American
component of a healthy diet- fiber. It acts like a Family Physician suggest that diet should put
broom in our body, removes cholesterol, toxins, emphasis on unprocessed foods, fruits and
lowers blood sugar, etc. White rice and white vegetables, PLANT BASED fats and proteins,
bread should be limited because the body legumes, whole grains, and nuts. Added
rapidly turns them into blood sugar. sugars should be limited to less than 5% to
10% of daily caloric intake. These approaches
Study on the role of whole grains versus have benefits that include prevention of
fruits and vegetables in reducing subclinical cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes
inflammation and promoting gastrointestinal mellitus, and obesity. A study Nutrition update
health in individuals affected by overweight on physicians suggests that physicians can
and obesity: a a randomized controlled trial, promote plant-based diets which are cost-
data demonstrates that WG and FV intake effective, low-risk interventions that may lower
can have positive effects on metabolic health; body mass index, blood pressure, HbA1C,
however, different markers of inflammation and cholesterol levels. They may also reduce
were reduced on each diet suggesting that the the number of medications needed to treat
anti-inflammatory effects were facilitated via chronic diseases.
different mechanisms
2. Adopt an active lifestyle!
Protein- one-fourth plate. Pick healthy Sitting in the new smoking. Set a goal and
sources of protein, nuts, seeds, beans, fish, keep a log of steps, for 5000 steps and increase
poultry; cut back on red meat; avoid bacon, it in small increments to achieve 10,000
other processed meats, and cold cuts. Healthy steps each day. You can squeeze in short
oils (like olive and coconut oil) are good for walks before each meal. Getting your blood
you. Use them moderately for cooking, on circulating and moving with fresh oxygen will
salad, and at the table. Drink water, tea, or keep your mind, body, and heart happy.
coffee. 1-2 servings of milk and dairy, they are
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31st India Festival 3. Get sleep. Sleep and connection between sleep the relationship between sleep
its benefits are the most deprivation and obesity, most restriction, weight gain and
underrated natural phenomena of it seems to be regulated diabetes risk may involve these
which mankind has easily by hormone disruptions. The pathways: (1) decreased energy
interjected with bright Wisconsin sleep cohort study, expenditure; (2) up-regulation
lights, cell phones, and other began in 1989, still ongoing of appetite; and (3) alterations in
electronic gadgets. Not getting provides an insight about glucose metabolism.
enough sleep each night is a the relations between BMI
major problem in today’s busy and hours of sleep. BMI, early Tell yourself “I can do this!”
world. There should always morning hormone levels and This is the most important step.
be enough hours at night for sleep duration were measured You have to believe that you can
your body to get the proper in about 1024 people. Leptin achieve better health, you’re
sleep and rest it needs. Set a hormone (appetite suppressor) likely to succeed. Take baby
“be in bed” time and stick to it. were less in people who slept steps, set tangible goals and
If at first you don’t “feel tired” less number of hours. Leptin work towards it every day. Be
try reading a book or focus on acts on the hypothalamus to true to yourself!
a few breathing techniques. suppress appetite. People who
The body will slowly get used slept less had higher amounts “The body is your temple.
to going to bed at the same of ghrelin hormone (appetite Keep it pure and clean for the
time every night and waking stimulator). Ghrelin stimulates soul to reside in.” Sri B. K. S
up feeling like you are actually the hypothalamus to increase Iyengar
rested. With a new, more active the appetite. Many laboratory
lifestyle, you might find you fall and epidemiological studies Wish you all a wonderful
asleep as soon as your head hits suggest that sleep loss may new year with lots of luck in
the pillow. play a role in the increased adopting a healthy lifestyle!
prevalence of diabetes and/or
An ever-increasing research obesity. Recent data suggest
body is revealing a strong

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