Sitaharan
OCTOBER 8 + 9, 2023; SAT + SUN AT 8PM
Fall for Dance, NY City Center
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The episode of abduction of Sita from the great epic The Ramayana is set to an excerpt from saint poet Tulsidas’s Ram Charit Manas. The demon Mareech assumes the form of a golden deer studded with precious gems. Sita sees the deer and is enraptured by its beauty. She begs her husband the noble Lord Ram to go and fetch the deer for her. Ram goes deep into the forest where the deer plays tricks by suddenly appearing and disappearing in turns. The all knowing Ram realises this is a mere illusion. He shoots Mareech with a powerful arrow and kills him. But the clever demon before dying calls out for help in the disguised voice of Ram. Sita hears his cries and believes her husband to be in grave danger. She begs his younger brother Laxman to go to the older brother’s help. Laxman refuses saying, “he who with the opening of his eyes can create and destroy universes can come to no harm, not even in one’s dreams.” Upon his refusal, Sita is enraged and accuses Laxman of harbouring treachery in his heart against his brother and of wanting to make the kingdom and her his own. Unable to bear these harsh words Laxman agrees to go. But before he leaves he draws three lines of protection around the house and asks Sita not to cross the lines for her safety. The ten headed demon king Ravan ceases this opportunity and comes disguised as a mendicant asking for food. Sita is forced to cross the lines to do her duty. Ravan picks up the earth on which Sita stands and puts her his chariot and flies away to his kingdom. Sita cries and bemoans her fate. The giant bird Jatayu hears her cries and comes to her rescue. A great battle ensues between Ravan and the bird in which Ravan cuts off Jatayu’s wing and he falls to the ground wounded.
Choreography - Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra
Music Composition - Ashit Desai
Raga Malika (Multiple Ragas), Tala Malika (Multiple Tala)