When Bharatanatyam brings the Nativity to life

Panaji: The quartet of dancers—Impana Kulkarni, Parijat Naik, Srushti Prabhudesai, and Sakshi Borkar—offered a unique experience at Sadbhav Christmas, depicting nativity stories surrounding the birth of Jesus like never before—through Bharatanatyam.The ‘Cradle of Light’, organised by the Society of Pilar at the Pilar Pilgrim Centre, on Dec 21, captivated the audience by bringing to life various nativity stories based on the Gospels according to Matthew and Luke.“Through our dance, we aimed to bring the Nativity story to life, showcasing not just the birth of Jesus but the essence of love and hope it represents,” said Impana, the choreographer and director of the dance presentation.Sadbhav Christmas, an annual event, was an interfaith gathering that brought together people of different faiths to celebrate Christmas, showcasing peace and communal harmony through cultural programmes.Taha Haaziq, secretary of the Goa State Commission for Disabilities, spoke about the importance of fostering cordial relations between various faith communities in his Christmas message. Earlier, Fr Lawrence Fernandes, the director of the Pilar Pilgrim Centre, welcomed the gathering, and students from Fr Agnel College of Arts & Commerce, Pilar, sang the Christmas carol “Mari Matek Ballok Zala”, penned by the renowned poet Manohar Rai Sardesai and set to music by Michael Martins.