Chakradhar Festival: Dances Unite North and South

Audiences Immersed in Devotion through Kathak and Bharatanatyam Performances

Raipur – Sept 2025 : On the eighth day of the Chakradhar Festival in Raigarh, dance performances created a confluence of North and South Indian traditions. Kathak, representing the cultural heritage of North India, and Bharatanatyam, reflecting the glorious ancient culture of South India, together turned the atmosphere devotional. The audience remained deeply engrossed in bhakti rasa (the spirit of devotion) throughout both performances.

Sangeeta Kapse’s Kathak – A Glimpse of Krishna Leela and Devotion

On the eighth day, Kathak dancer and guru Sangeeta Kapse, along with her talented disciples, beautifully connected classical dance with Krishna devotion. Through compositions based on teentaal and jhaptal, she presented episodes from the life of Lord Krishna with great emotional depth.

Sangeeta Kapse and her disciples brought alive the Krishna Saawariya theme on stage—depicting joy and festivity on Krishna’s arrival in Gokul, motherly affection during the butter-stealing episodes with Yashoda, playful mischief with the gopis, the liberation of Gokul from the serpent Kaliya, and finally, the divine message of love through Rasa Lila with the gopis. Their performance showcased not only the grace of Kathak but also the blend of folk and classical elements. Art lovers praised this presentation, filled with both dance mastery and Krishna devotion.

Internationally acclaimed, with performances in Malaysia and Dubai, Sangeeta Kapse has received several prestigious awards. She runs the Sangeeta Kala Academy in Raipur, which provides free dance training to underprivileged children alongside regular students, also supporting their education.

Ajit Kumari Kujur’s Bharatanatyam – A Glimpse of South Indian Culture

Renowned Raipur-based dancer Ajit Kumari Kujur and her team mesmerized the audience with their captivating Bharatanatyam performance. Her expressive storytelling, precise footwork, and mastery over the nuances of the dance form left spectators spellbound. The performance vividly reflected South Indian culture and traditions.

Through Bharatanatyam, Ajit Kumari skillfully used mudras (hand gestures), navarasas (facial expressions), and rhythmic footwork to narrate stories and convey emotions. The presentation not only highlighted the classical richness of Bharatanatyam but also reflected a unique fusion with Chhattisgarh’s cultural heritage.

Known for her versatility, Ajit Kumari Kujur holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Jabalpur and a master’s in Yoga. Currently serving as Deputy Engineer in the Water Resources Department in Raipur, she has established a distinct identity on both national and international platforms through her dance. Art lovers admired her presentation, noting that it demonstrated how dedication and passion can enable one to balance professional responsibilities with artistic pursuits.

It is noteworthy that Bharatanatyam, one of South India’s oldest classical dance forms rooted in Tamil Nadu temples, conveys Hindu spiritual philosophy and religious stories through movement, expression, and rhythm.