A song for the river Narmada

A song for the river Narmada (1)  

One of my many fascinations is rivers - the lifeforms they sustain and nurture, the civilizations built around it, and their sheer power for change superimposed on their timelessness and continuity. Working on pieces like the Narmada ashtakam with participants at the YM&YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood reinforces the ways in which Bharatanatyam connects us to nature.
In this piece, we describe the river Narmada's mischievous waves, the capacity of all rivers for rejuvenation, and transformation. We talked about people going on pilgrimages, and leaners shared things like atonement, asking for forgiveness, or fulfilling a personal desire as reasons to go on a pilgrimage. One mentioned the "eternal and ongoing" nature of rivers, which was so beautiful, and another drew analogies to Yom Kippur - a festival that had just passed. 

The song Narmada Ashtakam was composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya, and set to music by my teacher Smt. Nivedita ShivRaj of RagaChitra Fine Arts in the ragam Alarmagal. 
Learners are at the YM&YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood, 
​Video credit: Jeanette Shields ​

The image shows how I use the written word to help learners grasp some nuances. You will see:

• The name of the river Narmada
• Saralivarsai (foundational notes in Carnatic music) written out 
• A map of India with the river Narmada