Mesmerising Rasabhiva Festival Brings Alive Heritage through Dance

Hyderabad, 4th September 2025: Orissa Dance Academy, Bhubaneswar, presented RASABHIVA – a unique dance festival under the National Presence Scheme of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India – to a packed house at Ravindra Bharati, Hyderabad.

The festival, inaugurated by Dr. S. Chakravarthy (President, SICA), Smt. Shashi Reddy (Founder) and art critic Sri G. Anna Rao, showcased two scintillating dance productions that united history, heritage, and philosophy.

The first choreography, Manyam Veerudu – Alluri Sitaramaraju, by Padmashri Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant and her 23-member Shankarananda Kalakshetra team, along with guest artists, enthralled the audience with a powerful dance-theatre performance. Infused with martial arts, fight sequences, and deep emotion, the production brought alive the patriotism of Sitaramaraju, receiving a standing ovation.

The second presentation, Gita Mahatyam by Padmashri Dr. Aruna Mohanty and the Odissi Dance Academy, Bhubaneswar, depicted the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita through evocative choreography, showcasing its eternal relevance in contemporary life. This enthralling performance too received a long standing ovation.

The festival highlighted how classical dance can keep history, heritage, and philosophy alive for future generations. The audience, especially youth, described the evening as inspiring, memorable, and deeply moving.