Bhoomi Pranam on the world environment day

For Bharatham, artforms are not a medium for entertainment, but the way for enlightenment. Spiritual essence remains the soul of the sub-continent since time immemorial. Classical dance-forms are not different too and the repertoires begin with the 'Bhoomi Pranaam', taking the permission and blessing from the Mother Earth.

On this World Environment day, Smt. Sharmila Mukerjee, Founder Director of Sanjali Centre for Odissi Dance-Bengaluru, and her disciples celebrated it with a Bhumi-pranaam, but this time off the stage. With the theme - 'Beat Plastic Pollution', they were busy with up-cycling the old dance sarees to reusable carry bags. "We're saying No to single use plastic and taking a step towards better environment. Let's be the change we want to see!", they said.

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Renowned Carnatic Musician Pathmabhooshan Sudha Raghunathan gave a message through a video titled 'AmruthaVarshini'. She said, "On World Environment day, 5th June, let us have a prayer and take a pledge: 'May the waters flow peacefully; may the herbs and plants grow peacefully; may all the divine powers bring unto us peace. May the rain come down in the proper time, may the earth yield plenty of corn, may the country be free from war. The supreme Lord is peace'".

"Project Amruthavarshini has completed restoration of Ayyanar Kulam and Nandi Kulam at Tiruvaiyaru and moves on to Thiruparkadal in Vellore district. Let us pledge and say 'NO' to plastics and be sensitive to the pollution and contamination around us. A small step makes a difference in a big way!", she added.

Sri. Badari Divya Bhushan, the Bharatanatyam artist, made his salutations with a beautiful picture of himself in dance costume with a lush green vegetation in the backdrop.

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