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 Navamalika Festival: Nurturing budding artists to blossom- Riddhi Potnise-mail: punarjjaniculturalcentre@gmail.com Photos courtesy: International Academy of Mohiniyattam October 9, 2025 The 4th edition of the Navamalika festival was held on the 21st of September in Delhi. Organised by the International Academy of Mohiniyattam and its founder Jayaprabha Menon, the festival is specially curated to give young performers aged between 10 and 15 an opportunity to showcase their talent. Delhi, since the past 25 years, has been a significant hub for classical dance, with many eminent gurus from across the country establishing their schools in the city. Enriched by many cultural organisations, the city hosts a number of festivals to promote classical dance. Among these, Navamalika stands as a unique festival, designed exclusively for young talent. This festival intends to motivate young learners of Indian art and inspire them to pursue their chosen art forms seriously. With its growing popularity, the 4th edition of this festival attracted artistes from across the country.  Gayatri Deka and Jayaprabha Menon Sharing the thought behind the festival, Jayaprabha Menon, reflected on the need for such initiatives. She explained, "Traditionally, a child debuts on stage during his / her Rangapravesham after 5 to 7 years of training. But I think that every stage of learning is important. Being on stage is not easy. Even a small appearance requires good presentation skills, and performing on such platforms gives the child confidence and the skills required to perform. Especially today's kids, being exposed to so many things, are often confused, and art keeps them grounded. Navamalika gives them a chance to experience the joy of being on stage and inspires them to continue this journey further." This year's edition of Navamalika received an overwhelming response, reflecting its growing popularity and relevance. Fifteen performers were shortlisted from a large number of applications from across the country. The carefully curated line-up ensured that every major classical dance form was represented, creating a colourful and diverse evening.  Nivedya Menon, a Malayali girl from Rajasthan, travelled all the way to Delhi for the festival and presented a solo Odissi performance. (Incredible India indeed!). The festival also featured performances by students of eminent gurus such as Ranjana Gauhar (Odissi), Ayana Mukherjee (Kuchipudi), Gayathri Deka (Bharatanatyam), Seetha Nagajothy and Abhinaya Nagajothy (Kuchipudi), Smitha S. Pillai and Chandramani (Bharatanatyam). Each dancer showcased exquisite talent and grace.  Nandana Ratheesh (Bharatanatyam), and Anika and Bhavya (Mohiniyattam) represented the International Academy of Mohiniyattam with their stunning performances. Arnav, a full-throated singer, and Vaishnav Poduval, a percussionist (edakka player), enthralled the audience with their performances. The guest performer of the evening was Krisha Mathur, a very young and talented Kathak learner from Delhi, who had just been initiated into dance. Despite being so young and new to the stage, her performance delighted the audience and symbolised the essence of the festival—celebrating every stage of artistic growth, no matter how early. Each performer's passion for the art and hard work to achieve perfection was evident through their performance. Delighted with the success of the program, Jayaprabha Menon remarked, "It is very important to have festivals like these in today's scenario. The youth must understand the value of our tradition and culture. Dance is a beautiful vehicle through which we can achieve that and also inculcate discipline in the child. The skills obtained by learning dance help not only academically but also in life." She added, "Many well-wishers tell us to organise the festival on a larger scale, but due to financial constraints we are unable to do so. However, the success of the first four seasons definitely calls for a brighter future." Navamalika - one of the few, if not the only, festivals exclusively for young talent - is a significant effort towards building a brighter future for Indian performing arts. In an age driven by technological advancements and the influence of social media, festivals like Navamalika remind us of the power of art to keep us rooted in culture, tradition, and most importantly our own inner selves. This festival is certainly an inspiration for the youth to pursue traditional art forms and embrace them as a mode of self-expression. The success of the festival, and the spark within every participant, was truly a testament to the dedication of Indian youth towards culture and the arts. It was an evening that honoured the splendour of Indian performing arts and the steadfast young practitioners who will carry them forward.  Riddhi Potnis is a Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer and Educator. Based in Mumbai, she is currently pursuing her postgraduate degree in Performing Arts and is also working as a freelance Content Editor at Punarjjani Bharat. |
