At “Sadbhav Christmas,” an interfaith gathering organized by the Society of Pilar, the story of Christmas, titled “Cradle of Light,” was beautifully narrated through the traditional Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam. The event took place at Horta De Maria, Pilar Pilgrim Centre, in Pilar, Goa, western India, on December 2.
An enthralling performance by the quartet of dancers, Impana Kulkarni, Parijat Naik, Srushti Prabhudesai, and Sakshi Borkar, combined with meaningful commentary by Swara Prabhudesai from Vyomi Arts Centre, Porvorim, captivated the audience. The dancers brought various nativity stories to life, drawing on the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, using Bharatanatyam to convey the depth and emotion of each scene.
The performances included:
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Massacre of the Innocents, depicted through a Jatiswaram by Parijat and Impana.
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Monologues of Joseph and Mary in response to the Angel Gabriel, performed by Srushti and Impana.
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Adoration of the Magi, shown through the traditional dance Pushpanjali, performed by Parijat, Srushti, Sakshi, and Impana.
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Stories of Jesus’ childhood miracles and Mary’s experiences, performed by Impana.
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Tillana, the closing dance depicting the arrival of hope and light, is performed by Parijat, Srushti, Sakshi, and Impana.
“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 Kulkarni, choreographer and director of the dance presentation.
The interfaith gathering, symbolizing goodwill and harmony, brought together people of different faiths to celebrate Christmas, promoting unity, peace, and communal harmony through cultural programs like dance and music. The annual event received a highly positive response from attendees.
Mukesh Ghatwal, music director, composer, singer, and actor from the film Claudia, graced the event as the Chief Guest. He shared a soulful melody and reflected, “Music transcends barriers and speaks to our shared humanity. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the whole world is one family, is a message we all need to embrace.”
The guests of honour included Taha Haaziq, Secretary of the Goa State Commission for Disabilities, and Dr. Ida Mukherjee, a mental health professional. Haaziq highlighted the importance of fostering cordial relations among faith communities in his Christmas message, while Dr. Mukherjee delivered a presentation emphasizing the universal and inclusive nature of Christmas.
The program began with the traditional lamp lighting, led by Fr. Lawrence Fernandes, Director of the Pilar Pilgrim Centre, who welcomed the gathering. Students from Fr. Agnel College of Arts & Commerce, Pilar, performed the Christmas carol “Mari Matek Ballok Zala,” penned by poet Manohar Rai Sardesai and set to music by Michael Martins. This was followed by a Christmas folk song performed by students from Fr. Agnel Higher Secondary School, Pilar.
The entire program left the audience spellbound, with enthusiastic applause after each performance. One attendee reflected, “I feel uplifted today; this event truly showcases the spirit of Christmas.”
The program concluded with the presentation of mementos to dignitaries and participants. Sahil Awasthi and Siya Almeida, students of Fr. Agnel College, served as comperes, while Fr. Joseph Caji Barreto proposed the vote of thanks.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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