66th Independence Day celebrations of India

Dance–Drama by Dr. Kanak Rele accompanied by Nalanda Troupe will be in Sri Lanka to enthrall the Sri Lankan audience.

Celebrated Mohiniyattam danseuse of India Dr. Kanak Rele accompanied by the Nalanda troupe will perform in Colombo on August 15 at the Lionel Wendt Auditorium, Colombo 7 from 6.15 p.m. as part of the 66th Independence Day celebrations of India. D.E.W Gunasekera, Minister for Human Resources will be the chief guest and Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner of India will preside over the function.

The troupe also will perform at Singapore Hall, Hambantota on August 17 and on August 19 at the Hindu Cultural Hall, Kandy. Dr. Kanak Rele will also deliver a lecture cum demonstration at the University of the Visual and Performing Arts.

The troupe will also perform excerpts from the dance-drama The Enlightened One – Gautam Buddha that highlights the great tapas (penance) that prince Siddhartha eventually undertakes to arrive at the Truth (Satta) which is the Ultimate Salvation for human beings suffering from the great agony that is worldly life.

The dance-drama The Enlightened One- Gautam Buddha will also be a prelude to the exposition of Sacred Kapilvastu Relics in Sri Lanka from August 19 to September 5.

The exposition is being organised at the request of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the Prime Minister of India to provide an opportunity to the followers of Buddhism in Sri Lanka to pay homage to the Kapilavastu Relics. The schedule of the exposition is as follows:

[Venue of exposition]

August 19, 20, 21

Western
Kapilawasthu Hall,
Manel Watta Maha Vihara,
Kelaniya

August 22, 23

Sabaragamuwa
Rajamaha Vihara, Pelmadulla

August 24, 25, 26

North Central
Jayanthi Vihara, Anuradhapura

August 27, 28

Eastern
Agrabodhi Vihara, Kantale

August 29, 30 

Central
Naranvita Temple, Gampola

August 31, September 1

North Western
Sri Sumangala Pirivena,
Wariyapola

September 2, 3, 4

Southern
Matara Bodhiya, Matara

Moniniyattam, the classical dance that originated in Kerala that expresses feminine love in its myriad forms such as carnal, devotional and maternal is well known for its lasya (grace and beautiful) expressions. Most of the items of Mohiniyattam is similar to Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi though there are subtle differences of style.

M.S Gireesan, the vocalist, will lead the orchestra in which Narayan Namboodiri will play the Mridangam and P. Nanda Kumar will play on Edakka and S. Balasubramaniam will be on violin. Nattuvangam and stage management will be done by C. Gopalakrishnan.

As renowned performer educationalist, research scholar and teacher par excellence Dr. Kanak Rele is considered a legend of her times in the field of classical Indian dance. She is the founder Director of the world renowned Nalanda Dance Research Centre. Padmashree Dr. Kanak Rele is also a recipient of major awards such as Kalidas Samman, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and M.S Subbulakshmi Award.

Today Dr. Kanak Rele is equally recognised as a major choreographer and has created a vast repertoire of choreographic work apart from her own Mohiniyattam repertoire. Some of the most important dance dramas that she choreographed are Silappadikaram, Svapnavasavadattam, Rukmini Svayamvara, and Santa Vani. Though a qualified lawyer who has done research in International Law at the University of Manchester U.K., her Ph.D. from the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Mumbai is on Mohiniyattam.

The relationship between India and Sri Lanka is more than 2500 years and is built upon a legacy of intellectual, cultural, religious and linguistic ties. Since Arahat Mahinda's arrival in Anuradhapura in the 3rd century BC which heralded the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Buddhism continues to be a common thread binding India and Sri Lanka together.