Eight Young Dancers Receive Ghungroos in a Traditional Ceremony Honouring the Guru-Shishya Tradition
Mumbai: Saraswathy Kala Kendra & Research Centre (SKK), Mumbai, celebrated the auspicious occasion of Gurupurnima with a traditional and spiritually enriching Salangai Pooja (Gajja Pooja), marking an important milestone in the artistic journeys of eight young dancers.
The ceremony, conducted under the guidance of Guru Natya Sharada Smt. Subitha V. Murali, Director and Principal of SKK, witnessed the eight students receiving their ghungroos from their Guru in keeping with the age-old Guru-Shishya tradition. The ceremony included traditional rituals involving rice and turmeric, symbolising purification, devotion and the sacred beginning of a dancer’s formal journey on stage.
The young dancers who received their ghungroos were Harshini Reddy, Ritisha Kaushal, Mehika Sawant, Garima Pandey, Nishita Perumal, Adwita Ovhal, Saanvee Nayak and Meghana Kandivlikar.
As part of the ceremony, Harshini Reddy and Adwita Ovhal presented Kuchipudi, while Ritisha Kaushal, Mehika Sawant, Garima Pandey, Nishita Perumal, Saanvee Nayak and Meghana Kandivlikar performed Bharatanatyam.
The recital featured a rich repertoire of traditional compositions representing both the technical and devotional dimensions of Indian classical dance. The performances included Poorvarangam, Pushpanjali, Vinayaka Kautvam, Ganesh Kautvam, Alarippu, Sabha Vandanam, Jatiswaram, Shabdam and Saraswathy Stuti.
The programme culminated in a vibrant presentation of Manduka Shabdam from the Kuchipudi repertoire, depicting the story of Gajendra Moksham, followed by the traditional Mangalam.
The Gurupurnima celebration also brought together several eminent personalities and senior gurus from the fields of dance, culture and entertainment. Shri Jyothy Venkatesh, Chief Guest and eminent senior film and entertainment journalist, graced the occasion. Renowned Bharatanatyam exponent Guru Rajendra Naidu, along with Guru Shashi Ramesh, Guru Uma Devi, Guru Vidhya Sriram and Guru Vijay Shankar, were among the distinguished gurus who attended the function and blessed the young dancers.
The occasion also carried a deeply emotional moment as the SKK family remembered late Shri Murali Kumar Bhaskaran, husband of Guru Subitha V. Murali and Secretary of SKK. Known as the long-time voice behind SKK’s programmes and productions, his contribution to the institution was remembered with a moment of silence.
The event was hosted by Maitree Shastri, Disha Poojary, Sanchaiyta and Venkatesh Kumar.
The musical ensemble supporting the performances comprised Sandhya Pishorady on vocals, Moovattupuzha R. Sakthidharan on mridangam, Guru Shekhar Tanjorkar on violin and Raghavendra Baliga on flute. Makeup was provided by Anil Vasudevan, Shyama and Pooja Pandya.
Three Decades of Promoting Indian Classical Dance
Established in 1992–93 in Mumbai, Saraswathy Kala Kendra & Research Centre has, over more than three decades, trained and choreographed thousands of students in Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and semi-classical dance forms.
The institution is affiliated with the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya and the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and is a member of the International Council of Dance (CID), UNESCO, and IWCF. SKK has also earned recognition through milestone achievements associated with the Guinness World Records, Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records.
The Kendra continues to receive support from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and is committed to providing systematic training through certificate courses, diploma programmes, Visharad-level studies and Teachers’ Training programmes. Its long-term vision is to develop into a comprehensive centre for dance learning and research.
Guru Subitha V. Murali
At the helm of SKK is Guru Natya Sharada Smt. Subitha V. Murali, whose journey in the field of dance spans over three decades. A Nritya Visharad in Bharatanatyam, she has undergone extensive training in both Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi under the guidance of renowned exponent Dr. Smt. Rajya Lakshmi Seth. She has also participated in workshops conducted by the late Padma Bhushan awardee Guru Kalanidhi Narayanan.
Alongside her accomplishments in the performing arts, Guru Subitha V. Murali holds postgraduate qualifications in Commerce and Economics and Business Administration, a Master’s degree in Indian Art & Culture from the University of Mumbai, and a Master’s degree in Bharatanatyam from Tamil University, Thanjavur. She is currently pursuing research in the field.
In recognition of her contribution to the arts and women’s empowerment, she was honoured with the title of Perfect Women Mrs. India Intellectual 2018.
The Gurupurnima Salangai Pooja at SKK thus became more than a ceremonial occasion. It was a celebration of the enduring Guru-Shishya tradition, the dedication of young dancers and the continued pursuit of excellence in India’s rich classical dance heritage.