Festive Connections

The last day features a dance premiere — “an Odissi performance,titled Shweta Mukti-Feminine Glory of Nirvana,which explores Nirvana from the point of view of five women,” says Arshiya Sethi,the Founder and Managing Director of Kri Foundation,which is organising the Mohana Festival.

Kavita Dwibedi,a Delhi-based dancer,says Shweta Mukti was born after years of wondering “about the people,especially the women,behind Buddha’s success”. The 50-minute-long solo piece comprises five episodes,each revolving around one woman — Gautami,Buddha’s foster mother who ultimately becomes his disciple,Yashodhara,Buddha’s beautiful queen who “must accept the truth that her husband belongs not only to her but the entire universe”,the arrogant Magandi,who falls in love with Buddha and tries to allure him,the rich courtesan Amrapali,and Prakriti,a shoemaker’s daughter and a social outcast who becomes the first female ambassador of equality and liberty in Buddha’s Sangha.

Sethi points out that the Shweta Mukti also contains the festival’s ethos of focusing on the “inbetweeners” or the arts that do not fit into the traditional mould. “Shweta Mukti,for instance,goes beyond using Sanskrit only and comprises English,Oriya,Prakrit and Hindi poetry as well,” she says.

Mohana Festival will take place at Amphitheatre and

Stein Auditorium of India Habitat Centre from November 9-11.

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