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The pole dance of Indira is done before a
performance to ward off evil. Indira ordered a pole to be wrapped
in cloths of five different colours, each being dedicated to a deity.
The first was the white for Brahma; next came blue for Vishnu; then
green for Siva; the fourth was red for Karthikeya, the God of war; and
last came a multicoloured wrapping for Nagaraj, the king of
snakes. (‘Indian dancing’ by Ram Gopal & Serozh Dadachanji) |
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Whirling dance, which is the practice of the Mevlevi Order in Turkey, is just one of the physical methods to try to reach religious ecstasy (majdhb, fana). (Mevlevi comes from a Persian poet whose shrine is in Turkey and who was a Dervish himself). When they reach Fana they are not aware of the world around and have connection with Allah. |
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Kumudini Lakhia’s life and work are the focus of the book ‘Movement in
Stills: The Dance and Life of Kumudini Lakhia’ by Reena Shah. |
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