Traditional Ballet:
KUMARI:
The KUMARI dance is one of the most ancient classical
dances of the kingdom of Nepal. During the famous "Indra
Jatra" festive in Kathmandu, the living goddess Kumari
decorated with splendid ornaments and been taken around
the old Kathmandu in a chariot. And thousands of devotees
pay homage to her, including the King of Nepal and the
members of royal family.
According to chronological evidence, king Gunakama Dev
established Kantipur (Kathmandu City) nearly one thousand
year ago. During the reign of King Amar Malla, a religious
dance-drama of Swetakali Nritya" was performed every
twelve years in different localities of the Kathmandu
Valley. The story of the ballet is based on the
dance-drama of Swetakali, the white robed goddess of
Naradevi tole of Kathmandu while its music is derived from
various classical and popular folk songs of Nepal. In
ancient time when matriarchy was prevalent in Kathmandu,
the city was protected seven mother goddesses called
Swetakali, Raktakali, Bhadrakali, Kankeswari etc. The
temples of these goddesses where located along the border
of city and they are represented as kahadga or sacred
sword. Once during that time, when the demons suddenly
attacked the city and destroyed the lives and property of
the people. The goddesses, unable to fight them off, had
to flee and hide themselves. The ballet begins here while
searching for the goddesses, the king of demons Chandrasur,
known also as Mayurasur comes to a garden where he finds
the daughter of Swetakali was busy decorating herself.
They exchanged glances and falls in love with each other.
When the mother goddesses knows about their love and
relationship, they becomes furious and reprimands the
daughter. After discussions, they made a plan to use the
daughter to kill Chandrasur. They show the daughter the
pain and havoc caused by Chandrasur, she decides to follow
her mother's advice. Finally stabs her lover to death
while he is dancing with her in ecstasy. The entire
country rejoices at the victory. Then the daughter of
Swetakali makes her love immortal by deciding to remain
unmarried for life and thus becomes the goddess "Kumari".
It is the myth behind the tradition of Kumari, the living
Goddess of Kathmandu.
DEVI-DAITYA SANGRAM (The War of Goddess and Demon):
This is dramatic dance form, here the hand some brave
demon sees a beautiful girl and immediately falls in love
with her. Then he proposes to marry her, but she answers
that she will only accept one who can defeat her in a
battle. The egoist demon gets very angry and tries to
catch her. But it is not possible. They start battling.
The demon sees her in every where as the furious. Goddess
kali and collapses on the ground with fear. Then the
goddess, one who is the universal power stands on him.
CHANDALIKA (The Story About Buddhist Religious):
This dance is based on the ancient Buddhist
scriptures. An untouchable girl named Chandalika goes as
usual to the stream to fetch water. After washing herself
she is intercepted by a very thirsty monk named Ananda who
asks her for water. But she hesitates to give him water to
drink because as she confesses him that she is an
untouchable girl. On hearing such reply the monk says that
man does not become touchable with his social passions,
but only by his attitude and action. After hearing this
Chandalika gives water to the monk, who goes away giving a
profusion of blessing to the girl. Chandalika in her joy
returns home dancing. |