Natya Tarangini’s Maha Shivaratri Celebration in New Delhi
An amalgamation of India’s rich cultural heritage through dance and music in New Delhi
On a pleasant evening in New Delhi, time seemed to slow inside the quiet, resonant space of Raja Radha Rang Manch. The occasion was Maha Shivaratri, but what unfolded was more than a celebration—it was a deeply felt offering, shaped through movement, music, and memory.
Presented by Natya Tarangini, the Maha Shivaratri celebration became an immersive ode to Lord Shiva—the Adi Guru, the cosmic dancer, and the eternal source of rhythm. Rooted in India’s classical traditions, the evening brought together dance and music in a seamless confluence that felt devotional yet intimate, ceremonial yet alive.
Guided by Padma Bhushan awardees and living legends Raja Radha Reddy and Kaushalya Reddy, the programme reflected decades of artistic discipline and spiritual inquiry. Each performance unfolded with quiet authority, drawing from the grammar of classical dance while allowing emotion and stillness to lead the narrative.
Curated by Smt. Kaushalya Reddy, the evening moved with a natural rhythm—never hurried, never ornamental. Dancers and musicians from across the country came together to honour Shiva not through spectacle, but through surrender to form, breath, and tempo. The invocations, compositions, and choreographies carried a sense of inward listening, reminding the audience that classical art is as much about restraint as it is about expression.
The celebration was graced by Shri K. Mahesh, Secretary, Department of Art, Culture and Language, along with a gathering of cultural patrons, artists, and aesthetes who filled the space with attentive presence rather than applause alone. Among them were Neelam Pratap Rudy, Sharon Lowen, Siddhartth Mahajan, designer Narresh, Anurag Chauhan, Surabhi Tiwari, Divya Chauhan, and others who share a long-standing engagement with India’s cultural landscape.
Maha Shivaratri, observed across the country as a night of devotion and inner awakening, found its resonance here not in ritual alone, but in lived artistry. As the final notes lingered in the air, it was evident that the evening had offered something rare—a reminder of how classical dance and music, when held with integrity, can become a quiet path toward reflection.
Established in 1976, Natya Tarangini continues to stand as one of New Delhi’s most respected centres for the preservation and propagation of Indian performing arts. Nearly five decades on, its commitment remains unchanged: to nurture tradition while allowing it to breathe, evolve, and speak to each new generation.
That night, at Raja Radha Rang Manch, devotion did not announce itself loudly. It moved softly—through gesture, through sound, and through the collective stillness of those who came to witness it.
