Echoes of the Goddess, Whispers of Home

How dance and community bring ancient stories alive

- Dr. Rohini Dandavate
e-mail: dandavate2@gmail.com
Photos: Bibek Ghosh

October 5, 2025

Guru Sanchita Bhattacharya as Devi

On September 27, 2025, I had the opportunity to witness DEVI, a mega dance-theatre production that transcended performance and became a profound celebration of community arts, cultural storytelling, and spiritual expression. Conceived and choreographed by the renowned Odissi exponent Guru Sanchita Bhattacharya from India, the production brought together over fifty dancers, theatre artists, and dance enthusiasts from across the Bay Area and multiple states in the U.S.

At its heart, DEVI retold the timeless myth of Mahishasura Mardini - the divine feminine force embodied by Goddess Durga, created to defeat Mahishasura, the embodiment of Asura Vṛtti. This archetypal story of strength, resilience, and righteous power was expressed with creativity and emotional depth.

The Devi Sena - a radiant ensemble of senior dancers, gracefully embodied the higher faculties of consciousness, channeling the luminous, and harmonious energies from which Durga is born. Pawan Kumar, portraying the lion, was a powerful presence on the stage, successfully capturing the fierce loyalty, strength, and untamed spirit of the Goddess's vahana. His movements roared with intensity, grounding the celestial with a primal force that beautifully complemented the divine.

Devi Sena: Dancers - Nilanjana Roy, Mihika Banerjee, Kanika Mitra, Arundhati Parmar, Pallavi Nagesha, Rekha Garg, Kaveri and Radha

Asura Sena: Guru Rajesh Chavli. Sandeep Balliappa, Gourav Seth, Jay Patel, Sumeet Agarwal

In striking contrast, the Asura Sena, equally commanding in presence, delivered a visceral performance. Through roaring laughter, expansive movements, and athletic leaps and jumps inspired by Chhau and martial arts, the five male dancers - trained in theatre - vividly projected the inner distortions of arrogance, delusion, and unchecked desire.

This motif found a powerful echo in the production itself with the coming together of dancers, musicians, choreographer and community members to embody the many faces and energies of the goddess. In essence, the collective effort behind DEVI mirrored the very myth it portrayed - the convergence of divine forces to meet the shape-shifting challenges of our time.

Guru Sanchita Bhattacharya's visionary choreography is beautifully complemented by the evocative Bengali poetry and lyrics penned by her father, Shyama Pada Kole - a revered Kriya Yogi and spiritual thinker. His verses, rich with profound yogic insight, offers layered interpretations that elevate the narrative. The story of Mahishasura's battle with the Devi, was portrayed through the lens of the Ashtavidha path - a symbolic journey culminating in Moksha. This interpretation resonates deeply with the philosophy of Ashtanga Yoga and other core yogic principles. Translating such nuanced spiritual and philosophical ideas into the language of performance required sensitivity and creative discipline.

The use of a multidisciplinary movement vocabulary - including Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Chhau, Martial arts, and theatre - made the story accessible and compelling for a diverse, modern audience. This dynamic blend captivated viewers of all ages, drawing them into the world of DEVI with ease and intensity.

The production, presented under the banner of Prothoma – NorCal Bengali Association, was expertly managed by Baishali Roychoudhury and coordinated by Nilanjana Roy, senior disciple of Guru Jyoti Raut. Notably, Mihika Banerjee (a doctoral student at UCLA and student of Guru Sanchita Bhattacharya), Sneha Acharya, Sreeja Shreedevi and Apoorva Shastri, offered valuable support to fellow dancers. Their combined efforts were instrumental in realizing the performance. Nilanjana's tireless dedication brought together a diverse ensemble of male and female dancers, spanning various levels of training, and helped transform an ambitious artistic vision into an emotionally resonant production.

The audience of nearly 500 was swept away in a wave of shared reverence, embraced by sacred chants, resonant sounds, and the gentle glow of diyas. The elaborate costumes, evocative lighting, projected backdrops, narration in English, and the coordination of performers created a deeply immersive and spectacular storytelling experience. The auditorium was alive not just with sound and movement, but with emotion, memory, and collective awe.

For me personally, DEVI was more than a performance - it was a deeply nostalgic journey. Having experienced the fervor of Durga Puja in Odisha during my childhood and youth, and having participated in such dance-dramas annually, I felt transported back in time. The rhythms of the cymbals and drums, the lyrical poetry, and the emotionally charged atmosphere of the auditorium brought back vivid memories of devotion, festivity, and community. It was as if past and present merged for a few sacred moments.

Yet, even more profoundly, DEVI served as a reminder that the battle between Devas and Asuras is ongoing - within society and within ourselves. In a world increasingly shaped by fragmentation, egoism, and alienation, the production reminded us that it is only through unity, awareness, and conscious collaboration - the very principles behind Durga's creation - that we can confront the Mahishasuras of our own time.

DEVI was a living invocation, a testament to what community can create when united by culture, creativity, and purpose. It reminded us that storytelling, when born from collective effort and deep-rooted tradition, can move not just the body - but the soul. And like Durga herself, it teaches us that when we call upon our inner divinity, courage, and collaboration, transformation is inevitable.

Dr. Rohini Dandavate is an Odissi dance practitioner with a Ph.D. in Cultural Policy and Arts Administration from The Ohio State University. Born in Cuttack, Odisha, she trained at Kala Vikash Kendra under renowned gurus, including Dr. Menaka Thakkar, Guru Raghunath Dutta, Guru Ramani Ranjan Jena, and Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. She develops workshops and curricula that use traditional arts to promote cultural understanding and has created multimedia resources for Odissi students and teachers. Her publications explore topics in Odissi dance, arts administration, cultural policy, and dance education. Through her work, Dr. Dandavate fosters meaningful engagement with Odissi and world cultures.