Natya Ballet Centre presents "Draupadi" Hindi Dance Drama at Shri Ram Center for Performing Arts (SRCPA), 4, Safdar Hashmi Marg > 7pm on 28th November 2012

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Time : 7:00 pm

Entry : Free (Seating on First-Come First-Served basis)

Place : Shri Ram Center for Performing Arts (SRCPA), 4, Safdar Hashmi Marg, Mandi House, New Delhi-110001
Venue Info : Events | About | Map | Nearest Metro Station - 'Mandi House(Blue Line)'

Event Description : Natya Ballet Centre presents 'Draupadi' Hindi Dance Drama. This dance ballet, a mix of Chhau and Odissi, is a tribute to the indomitable spirit of Draupadi of the Mahabharata, 

"Draupadi" explores the status of women in the modern Indian context against the backdrop of the life of Draupadi, the Panchali princess and her trials and tribulations. In spite of her beauty, intelligence, physical prowess, and inimitable spirit she was betrothed to the victor of a competition, sacrificed at the alter of the male ego in a game of dice, and trivialized and humiliated by the Kauravs. Even at the end of her life, as she fell on her journey to the heavens, not one of her husbands' attempted to help her, instead selfishly sought Moksha for themselves.

Does the Indian woman of today continue to face Draupadi's plight? Does she remain a commodity and does she have what it takes to rise above it all to effect a change? A profound message lies within the folds of the drama that played out more than 5000 years ago. Thousands of years may have gone by since the Mahabharat but Draupadi is still here. She exists in every strata of Indian society. She is revisited each time a girl child or woman is considered a burden or looked upon as the weaker sex or has to give up her dreams to accommodate the wishes of others. The yet prevalent practice of female infanticide has tilted the female to male ratio so that women in some regions of India today are wedded to two or more brothers. These are the modern day Draupadis of India.
It is time to change our ways. To change blind beliefs and horrific practices. To restore honor and dignity of the Naari, the girl child, the woman, the mother, the sister, the SHE principal.                                 


Choreography by : Anirudh Das and Nibedita Mahapatra

Inauguration by : Dr. Suresh Goel, Director General, ICCR

Special appearance by : Shivani Wazir Pasrich as 'AAj Ki Naari' 

Related Events : Dance | Theatre