As the Navaratri festival fervour sweeps across the nation and devotees immerse themselves in worship, and celebration, the Sangeet Natak Academy (SNA) has added an enriching dimension to the festivities: It has kicked-off a nine-day cultural extravaganza ‘Shakti: A Festival of Music and Dance’ beginning Tuesday to be held every day till April 17 at as many different Shaktipeeths or significant temples associated with Goddess Durga located in various parts of the country.
The festival has begun from the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati on the first day of Navratra on Tuesday and will be continued at various significant Shaktipeeths such as Mahalakshmi Temple in Kolhapur, Jwala Ji Temple in Kangada, Tripura Sundari in Udaipur, Ambaji Temple in Banaskantha, Jai Durga Shaktipeeth in Deoghar, to conclude at Shaktipeeth Maa Harsidhi Temple in Jaisinghpur on April 17 with much fervour and devotion.
These sacred sites are significant shrines and pilgrimage destinations in Shaktism, the goddess-centric denomination in Hinduism.
Each day of the festival ‘Shakti: A Festival of Music and Dance, is dedicated to a different Shaktipeeth, highlighting the beauty and power of the goddesses and promoting cultural unity and harmony across the country, explained an official from the SNA.
The national academy of performing arts is an autonomous body of the Union Ministry of Culture.
“Navaratri holds immense spiritual and cultural importance, symbolising the victory of good over evil and the power of divine feminine energy.
“By organising such festivals dedicated to honouring the nine goddesses and promoting the rich heritage of temple traditions, also provides a platform for artists to showcase their talents in a culturally significant context,” said Acharya Pandit Rahul Tiwari, pujari at Neelam Mata Mandir, Mayur Vihar Phase 2 in the national Capital.
He said, “Through music, dance, and festivities, these initiatives not only revitalise temple traditions but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the cultural diversity and spiritual heritage of the nation.
It serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of Navaratri and its relevance in contemporary times.”
Most of these Shaktipeeths or historic places of goddess worship are in India, but there are seven in Bangladesh, four in Nepal, three in Pakistan, and one each in Tibet, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
The official from the Academy said the festival aimed to rejuvenate the temple traditions in the country under the series of Kala Pravah, features a diverse range of activities, including traditional music and dance performances, devotional songs, cultural programmes, lectures, and exhibitions. Artists from different regions will showcase their talent, presenting the rich cultural heritage associated with the festival and temple traditions.
The SNA has been working towards the preservation, research, promotion and rejuvenation of performing art forms of the country expressed in the form of music, dance, drama, folk and tribal art forms and other allied art forms of the country.
