Kathak Exponents Dr. Shovana Narayan and Deepak Maharaj honored with Pt. Birju Maharaj Award 2022

PUNE, India - May 29, 2022 - PRLog -- Acclaimed International Delhi-based Kathak exponents Dr. Shovana Narayan, recipient of the Padma Shri Awards, a prime disciple of Late Pt. Birju Maharaj and Deepak Maharaj, son of Late Pt. Birju Maharaj were bestowed with the Nritya Samrat Pt. Birju Maharaj Awards.  The inaugural awards were part of the Pt. Birju Maharaj Mahotsav Dance Festival, organized by Dr. Nandkishore Kapote, Artistic Director, Nandkishore Cultural Society, as a tribute to the legacy of Kathak Maestro Pt. Birju Maharaj who passed away in January this year.  The honor parchment to felicitate the awardees was prepared and read by Kiran Java, author, and editor at the event which was held at the Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Auditorium in Pune on May 14th, 2022.

Dr. Nandkishore Kapote, Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar Awardee and prime disciple of Late Guru Pt. Birju Maharaj, said, "When my Guru Pt. Birju Maharaj, sadly passed away at the beginning of the year, the Maharashtra Press had asked me about my plans for a tribute to my Guru.  I promptly responded that I would host a dance festival, establish an award in my Guru's memory, and conduct workshops to share his teachings. This dream has come true today."

Dr. Shovana Narayan and Deepak Maharaj performed the classic paramparik (traditional) repertoire of the Lucknow Gharana. Dr. Shovana Narayan concluded her performance as young Yashodhara, the wife of Prince Siddharth (Gautam Buddha).  The impact of Dr. Shovana Narayan's performance was heightened by Madho Prasad's singing and Shakeel Ahmed on the tabla - prominent Delhi musicians. Deepak Maharaj, a seasoned dancer, began his presentation with 'Mahadev Shiv Shambho', a delightful Shiv Vandana. He enthralled the audience with a composition by his father Pt. Birju Maharaj, which simulated the moving rhythm of a train - and indeed with the way Deepak Maharaj executed the footwork, one could hear the rhythm of a train in the auditorium.  He was accompanied by ace table player Pranshu Chaturlal and Maharashtra-based musicians singer Shubham Khandalkar, flautist Dhaval Joshi and Umesh Purohit on the harmonium.

The next upcoming event organized by Nandkishore Society is a series of Kathak workshops and lecture-demonstrations on 'Kathak through the lens of Medieval treatises' by Dr. Puru Dadheech, Padma Shri Awardee, starting from 3rd June, 2022.

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