Recording of the music used during the classical Southern Indian dance presentation in New Delhi, India

Ugadi Festival - Adivo

2nd Delhi Jazz Fest - Georgia Jazz

Vani Ki Vandanam is an invocatory dance in which the dancers welcome the audience to watch the Nritya Pradarsanam or dance performance of the evening.

According to Natya Sastra, any of the preceding deities of the Indian mythology can be prayed to before commencing a stage performance.

Here, Goddess Saraswati, the consort of Lord Brahma, is bowed down to. She is the goddess of knowledge, and education and holds a pen in one hand and book in another. She also sits over a huge lotus flower. She is the goddess of all arts and loves to play her Veena, the Vipanchi.

This song has been written and choreographed by Guru Smt. Seetha Nagajothy and composed with Dr. Rupa. Set to Ragamalika and Adi Talam Vani ki Vandanam.

Ugadi Festival - Vani Ki Vandanam

Ma Telugu Talli Ki begins the presentation in bringing the spirit of the Ugadi Festival. The dancers pray to the presiding deity of this celebration.

The music is set to Abheri Ragam.

Ugadi Festival - Ma Telugu Talli Ki

Gajavadana Beduve starts with the dancers going in a circular pattern on the stage.

According to Indian theatrical tradition, the Ashtadikpalakaas, the eight gods of directions, is prayed to in order to calm and pacify them.

The preceding deity of this song is Ganesha, the elephant headed god. He is the son of Parvati and Siva. He is ekadantam, or the one with a single tooth, and has a huge body. He loves to eat modakam or sweets.

This popular piece is written by Purandaradasa and is set to Hamsadhwani ragam and Adi talam. 

Ugadi Festival - Gajavadana Beduve

Shivashtakam is a set of eight verses written by the greatest Hindu philosopher Adi Sankaracharya. This is a vigorous dance that brings out many karanas or the athletic side of classical dance that has been mentioned in the Natya Sastra. 

Story: Lord Siva is adorned as the one with blue throat. As he was about to drink the poisons of the world (from the churned ocean) to save the living, his consort Parvati, stops the poison by his throat. The poison then turned his throat into blue. He wears moon as an ornament and also wears tiger skin as a dress. He also decorates snakes all over his body.

Shivashtakam is set to Mohana ragam and Khandachapu talam.

Ugadi Festival - Shivashtakam

Brindavani Thillana explored the technical side of Kuchipudi that involves only the Nritta or pure dance of Kuchipudi.

The dancers themselves recited Jathis in all five jaathis while balancing themselves on the rim of a brass plate and balancing chembu (brass pot filled with water).

This is a composition by Dr. Balamurali Krishna. Set to Aadi talam ad Brindavani ragam, it is choreographed by Guru Smt. Seetha Nagajothy.

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