Ramayana Kalpavrksam – Preview

Sri Rama and His story – The Ramayana – is a story that transcends space and time – an epitome of love, service and sacrifice.

Telling and retelling the Ramayana has not tired the storyteller, the listener or the viewer, and continues to inspire seers, artistes and scholars across millennia

Sri Rama’s story has been told, from the time of Rama himself, when Rama’s sons, Lava and Kusha, sang His story in the presence of the Lord himself! From then, till today, Ramayana the living story, continues to bring us closer to understanding our own human nature, aspiring to Godhood, becoming veritably the Kalpavrksam – The life giving tree – that bestows us with continued blessings and insights; a glorious heritage that informs the very collective conscious of not just India but Asia too!

Says renowned dancer and Padmashri awardee, Dr Ananda Shankar Jayant, the festival curator ‘My engagement with Rama and the Ramayana, began with learning the Sloka –‘ Ramaya Ramabhadraya Ramachandraya Vedase’, from my mother, that later continued into dance productions – Thyagaraja Ramayanam, Sri Rama Namam Entha Ruchi Ra, performing at the Ramayana Festival at Angkor Vat, Cambodia, convening the Natya Kala Conference, Chennai with the theme – ‘Ramayana in Performing Arts’, etc.

Adds Ananda ‘I have always believed that the most powerful doorway to Indic knowledge, in through Bharat’s many splendored arts and crafts. As a resident of Hyderabad, I was keen to curate and present, a multi art festival that would appeal to everyone, and hence Ramayana’. She adds, ‘Rama has drawn me often and He seems to have done it again!’

Shankarananda Kalakshetra & Natyarambha are delighted to bring to Hyderabad, an immersive, 3 day multi art festival Ramayana Kalpavrksam, from 31st March 2023 – to 2nd April 2023, at the CCRT Campus, Madhapur, Hyderabad.

Ramayana Kalpavruksam, an immersive festival 3 day festival, with appeal across age groups, with scintillating performances, ranging from the classical to the popular, thought provoking talks, workshops on rare arts and other special features

The stellar line up of events include a galaxy of renowned artistes from across the country

Kala Sandhya

3 day – evening events

Choodamani Pradhanam by Kalakshetra Chennai

Vishaka Hari’s Harikatha – Navarasa Ramayanam

J Sai Deepak’s talk on Raja Dharma – Lesson From the Ramayana

Taaraka Naama – Musical evening by young stars Abhilash Venkitachalam of Super Singer and Sai Vignesh of Kantara fame

Anupama Hoskare’s unique puppetry – Ramayana Saptaswara

Shankarananda Kalakshetra’s premiere- Bhavayami Raghuramam

Ramamrita

2 day – Conference on various facets of the Ramayana by senior and young scholars, from across the country – curated by dance scholar Dr Anupama Kylash.

Listen in to

Dr Sudha Seshayyan

Dr Gauri Mahulikar

Dr Nagaraj Paturi

Ramaa Bharadvaj

Ami Ganatra

Vinay Varanasi

Surajit Dasgupta

Hemant Pandey, speaking from the space of scholarship and Bhakti

Special Features

Manas Paath – Traditional recitation & singing of Sundara Kandam of Tulasi Ramayan by Pandit Dilkash Bharti Sadanand Vishwakarma and Party, Varanasi

Rama Ayana – Walk with Rama – Nagara Sankeertana lead by TK Saroja & TK Sujatha

Pancharatna Kritis lead by Sweta Prasad

Unique Workshops by Hema Kannan, Rahul Teddy and Anupama Hoskere

Cultural Brand showcase

Artisans corner and more

The morning events are free, while there is a nominal registration fee for evening events and workshops

Registrations at www.ramayanakalpavrksam.com